jeopardize

Other forms: jeopardized; jeopardizing; jeopardizes

Jeopardize means to put at risk or pose a threat. Jeopardize your career by posting silly pictures of yourself on Facebook. Jeopardize your friendships by posting silly pictures of your friends on Facebook.

Jeopardize stems from the Old French jeu parti, which literally translates to a game with divided, or even, chances. An even chance of winning hardly seems a risky endeavor, but maybe our forefathers weren't big risk-takers. Whatever the reason, jeopardize has come to mean the act of putting yourself or something at risk, through circumstance or behavior. Think of double-jeopardy on the gameshow "Jeopardy" and you'll better understand what it means to jeopardize your savings.

Definitions of jeopardize

1. verb

   pose a threat to; present a danger to
   synonyms: endanger, imperil, jeopardise, menace, peril, threaten

   type of:

   be, exist

   have an existence, be extant
2. verb

   put at risk
   synonyms: adventure, hazard, stake, venture

   type of:

   lay on the line, put on the line, risk

   expose to a chance of loss or damage