Jeopardy Meaning
/ˈd͡ʒɛpədi/Definition, CEFR level C1, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.
Listen pronunciation
Definition
nounDanger of failure, harm, or loss.
verbTo jeopardize; to endanger.
Sentence Examples
I'm afraid going into their yard will put me in jeopardy.
Would domestic peace be plunged into jeopardy?
CEFR Practice Quiz
The hikers put their lives in ____ by ignoring the storm warning.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The lives of the sailors were in ____ when their boat was hit by a massive storm in the middle of the ocean.
Word Origin & History
From Middle English jupartie, jeupartie (“even chance”), from Anglo-Norman giu parti and Middle French jeu parti (“a divided game, i.e. an even game, an even chance”), from Medieval Latin iocus partītus (“an even chance, an alternative”), from Latin iocus (“jest, play, game”) + partītus, perfect passive participle of partiō (“divide”); see joke and party.
Literary Quotations & Historical Citations
"Thus chaunce hath (by exchaunge) the flie ſo trapt, / That ſodainly he loſt his libertee: / The more he wrange, the faſter was he wrapt [in the spider's web] / And all to thencreaſe of his ieoberdee, […]"
— 1556, John Heywood, “The Introduction to the Matter, Showing howe the Flie Chaunced to Fall into the Spiders Copweb”, in The Spider and the Flie. […], London: […] Tho[mas] Powell, →OCLC; republished as A[dolphus] W[illiam] Ward, editor, The Spider and the Flie. […] (Publications of the Spenser Society, New Series; 6), Manchester: […] [Charles E. Simms] for the Spenser Society, 1894, →OCLC, page 27:
"It seemed to me I could do something in that vein with my characters: the ticking clock, dire jeopardy, quick changes of fortune, small acts having huge consequences."
— 2006, Paul Chadwick, Concrete: Killer Smile, Introduction, p.4:
"When Obinna was red carded shortly after for a ridiculous kick on Larsson it seemed as though West Ham's hopes of reaching Wembley, and in turn Grant's of keeping his job, lay in serious jeopardy."
— 2011 January 11, Jonathan Stevenson, “West Ham 2 – 1 Birmingham”, in BBC Sport:
Explore More C1 Vocabulary Words
CEFR Practice Quiz
The hikers put their lives in ____ by ignoring the storm warning.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The lives of the sailors were in ____ when their boat was hit by a massive storm in the middle of the ocean.