Definition

Noun: - Danger of loss, harm, or failure; peril: "Jeopardy" refers to a state or situation where there is a serious risk of something bad happening, such as damage, loss, or destruction. It implies being exposed to a threat.

Usage

"Jeopardy" is a formal noun, most commonly used in the phrase "in jeopardy." It describes a vulnerable or threatened state. It is often used in legal, financial, environmental, and general contexts to discuss serious risks.

Examples

• The company's financial future is in jeopardy after the failed merger.
• The new evidence put the entire court case in jeopardy.
• The construction of the dam puts the local ecosystem in jeopardy.
• His reckless actions placed his career in jeopardy.

Advanced Usage

• "To place/put something in jeopardy": To cause something to be at risk.
  • The data breach put thousands of customers' personal information in jeopardy.
• "To be in jeopardy of (something)": To be at risk of experiencing a specific negative outcome.
  • The coastal town is in jeopardy of flooding due to rising sea levels.

Variants and Related Words

• Jeopardize (verb): To put something or someone into a situation of risk or danger.
  • His comments could jeopardize the delicate negotiations.
• Jeopardous (adjective, archaic): Dangerous, perilous. (Rarely used in modern English.)

Synonyms

• Peril: Serious and immediate danger.
• Hazard: A danger or risk, often one that is potential or hidden.
• Risk: The possibility of something bad happening.
• Endangerment: The action of putting someone or something at risk.

Antonyms

• Safety: The condition of being protected from danger, risk, or injury.
• Security: The state of being free from danger or threat.

Idioms and Phrases

• "In jeopardy": At risk of being damaged, lost, or destroyed.
  • The patient's life was in jeopardy until the surgery was completed.
• "Double jeopardy" (Legal term): The prosecution of a person twice for the same offense, which is prohibited in many legal systems.
  • The principle of double jeopardy protects citizens from being tried twice for the same crime.

Noun

1. a source of danger; a possibility of incurring loss or misfortune
   • drinking alcohol is a health hazard