Definition

1. Verb:
   • To throw or drop (something) from an aircraft, ship, or other vehicle, especially to lighten it in an emergency: The core meaning involves discarding items overboard from a moving vehicle to ensure safety or improve performance.
   • To discard or abandon (something) as unwanted or burdensome: This figurative meaning extends to getting rid of any idea, plan, or possession that is seen as a hindrance.

Examples of Usage

• Literal (from a vehicle):

  • The crew had to jettison the cargo to keep the plane from crashing.
  • The captain ordered them to jettison the fuel tanks to reduce weight.

• Figurative (to discard something):

  • The company decided to jettison its old marketing strategy.
  • We need to jettison these outdated rules if we want to progress.

Advanced Usage

• "to jettison something overboard": to throw something from a ship into the water.

  • During the storm, they had to jettison several containers overboard.

• Used in a strategic or business context: To describe abandoning a failing project or non-essential element.

  • The startup had to jettison its secondary product line to focus on its core business.

Variants and Related Words

• Jettisonable (adj): Designed to be thrown overboard or discarded.

  • The aircraft has jettisonable external fuel pods.

• Jettisoning (n): The act or process of jettisoning.

  • The jettisoning of the cargo saved the vessel.

Synonyms

• Discard: To get rid of something that is no longer useful or desirable.
• Dump: To get rid of something unwanted, especially quickly or carelessly.
• Shed: To allow something to fall off; to get rid of a burden or responsibility.
• Eject: To force or throw something out, typically in a sudden way.

Related Phrasal Verbs

(Note: "Jettison" is not commonly used in phrasal verb constructions. Its meaning is typically contained within the single verb.)

Related Idioms

• "To throw overboard": This idiom is a close synonym for the literal meaning of jettison.
  • Figuratively, the board threw the CEO's proposal overboard.

Verb

1. throw as from an airplane
2. throw away, of something encumbering