endangered

endangered — adjective

1. describes something that is in a situation where it could be harmed, lost, or fa

1.adjectiveB1
Definition

describes something that is in a situation where it could be harmed, lost, or fail to continue.

Example

Asher worried that his job would be endangered by the new factory automation.

passive: be endangered by [something]

The old library is endangered by the city's plan to build a new shopping center.

Common collocations
  • endangered job
  • endangered program
  • endangered relationship
  • endangered tradition
  • endangered language
Synonyms
  • at risk

    broader and less urgent than 'endangered'; used in many contexts

  • threatened

    less severe — 'threatened' means at risk, whereas 'endangered' implies more immediate danger

  • vulnerable

    more formal; often used in official conservation categories

Antonyms
  • safe

    not in any danger

  • secure

    firmly protected from harm or loss

Grammar Patterns

be endangered

become endangered

remain endangered

endangered + noun

Usage Note

Frequently used in passive constructions: 'be endangered'. The subject can refer to abstract things (relationships, traditions) or concrete things (buildings, jobs).

Common Mistakes

That snake is endangered.' (when meaning it could hurt you)
That snake is dangerous.
'endangered' means the snake itself is at risk of being harmed; 'dangerous' means it could harm others.
The old bridge is endangered, so be careful crossing it.
The old bridge is dangerous, so be careful crossing it.
'endangered' describes something that could be damaged, not something that could harm you.

2. describes a type of animal or plant that faces a serious risk of disappearing fr

2.adjectiveB1
Definition

describes a type of animal or plant that faces a serious risk of disappearing from the world, since only a small number still exist.

Example

The giant panda was removed from the endangered list after conservation efforts succeeded.

collocation: endangered list

Mayumi's research focuses on endangered plants found in the Himalayan mountains of Nepal.

attributive: endangered + noun (plants)

Common collocations
  • endangered species
  • critically endangered
  • endangered list
  • endangered status
  • endangered animals
  • endangered plants
  • endangered wildlife
Synonyms
  • threatened

    a less urgent conservation category; the species is at risk but not yet endangered

  • at risk of extinction

    phrase that clarifies the specific danger faced by the species

  • vanishing

    more dramatic or poetic; less common in formal conservation writing

Antonyms

Grammar Patterns

be endangered

be listed as endangered

endangered + noun (species/plants/animals)

Usage Note

Common in formal and scientific contexts. The most frequent collocation is 'endangered species'. Often appears in discussions of conservation, wildlife protection, biodiversity, and environmental law.

Common Mistakes

Lions are endangered everywhere in Africa.
Lions are vulnerable in some parts of Africa.
not all rare animals are officially 'endangered'; conservation has specific categories (vulnerable, threatened, endangered, critically endangered).
My house plant is endangered because I forgot to water it.
My house plant is dying because I forgot to water it.
'endangered' refers to an entire species at risk of extinction, not an individual plant.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: adjective/1

All four words describe exposure to potential harm, but they differ in urgency and scope. 'At risk' is the broadest and most neutral term — any person, thing, or situation can be at risk. 'Threatened' implies a known source of danger and is slightly more specific ('The wetland is threatened by pollution'). 'Vulnerable' carries a sense of weakness or inability to defend oneself, often used in formal or psychological contexts ('Children are vulnerable to online scams'). 'Endangered' is the strongest — it signals that the danger is immediate and severe, and it is the standard term in conservation for species near extinction. For everyday use, say 'His business is at risk' (neutral) or 'His business is endangered' (urgent, dramatic). For conservation, use the categories: vulnerable → threatened → endangered → critically endangered.

at risk ↗threatenedvulnerable ↗endangered ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

Phrases

  • become endangered
  • remain endangered
  • be listed as endangered
  • be considered endangered

Prepositions

Etymology

Old FrenchMiddle EnglishModern English

The word 'endangered' combines the prefix 'en-' (meaning 'to put into' or 'cause to be') with 'danger', which came from Old French 'danger' (meaning power to harm or control). The verb 'endanger' has been used in English since the 1400s to mean 'to put in a position of risk'. The adjective form gained wide use in the mid-1900s, especially as conservation movements pushed for legal protection of species near extinction. Today it carries both a general sense of being at risk and a specific legal meaning in wildlife protection laws.