jettison

1 of 2

verb

jet·ti·son ˈje-tə-sən

-zən

jettisoned; jettisoning; jettisons

Synonyms of jettison next

transitive verb

: to get rid of as superfluous or encumbering : omit or forgo as part of a plan or as the result of some other decision

must be prepared to jettison many romantic notions—

Christopher Catling

: to drop (cargo) to lighten a ship's load in time of distress

: to drop from an aircraft or spacecraft in flight

jettisonable

ˈje-tə-sə-nə-bəl

-zə-

adjective

jettison

2 of 2

noun

: a voluntary sacrifice of cargo to lighten a ship's load in time of distress

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The Origin of Jettison

Jettison comes from Anglo-French geteson, which means literally "action of throwing" and is related to the Latin verb jactare, meaning "to throw." The noun jettison refers to a voluntary sacrifice of cargo to lighten a ship's load in time of distress, and it is the source of the word jetsam (the name for goods "jettisoned"); the word is often paired with flotsam ("floating wreckage"). These days you don't have to be on a sinking ship to "jettison" something: the verb also means simply "to get rid of."

Examples of jettison in a Sentence

Verb The captain gave orders to jettison the cargo. They jettisoned the fuel and made an emergency landing. We should jettison these old computers and get new ones. They jettisoned plans for a vacation. Noun with his ship rapidly sinking, the captain ordered a last-ditch jettison of much of its cargo

Recent Examples on the Web

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Verb

And much of the script is already written, having been jettisoned only at the last minute from the year-end government funding deal. —

Peter Sullivan, Axios, 2 Jan. 2025 The 14 people on board — 12 teenage girls, Pino and his wife Cecilia — were jettisoned into Biscayne Bay. —

David Goodhue, Miami Herald, 2 Jan. 2025

Noun

On these types of secretive national security missions, the government typically requests that the launch provider stop providing updates on the ascent into space when the rocket jettisons its two-piece payload fairing a few minutes after launch. —

Andrew Cunningham, Ars Technica, 30 Oct. 2024 People who know her describe Su as a shrewd strategist who invests in talented people and jettisons those who aren’t pulling their weight. —

Billy Perrigo, TIME, 10 Dec. 2024 See all Example Sentences for jettison

Word History

Etymology

Noun and Verb

Middle English jetteson, from Anglo-French geteson, literally, action of throwing, from Latin jactation-, jactatio, from jactare — more at jet

First Known Use

Verb

1848, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Noun

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler

The first known use of jettison was in the 15th century

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Style

“Jettison.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/jettison. Accessed 18 Jan. 2025.

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Kids Definition

jettison

verb

jet·ti·son

ˈjet-ə-sən,

-ə-zən

: to throw goods overboard from a ship or aircraft especially to lighten it in distress

: discard entry 1 sense 2

jettison noun

Last Updated: 9 Jan 2025 - Updated example sentences

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jettison

verb

noun

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Synonyms

Examples of jettison in a Sentence

Word History

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Dictionary Entries Near jettison

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Kids Definition