Definition

The act of throwing away or getting rid of something, especially cargo from a ship to make it lighter in an emergency.

Example

The crew decided to jettison some of the cargo to keep the ship afloat during the storm.

Conversation

Did you hear about the boat that had to make a jettison during the storm?

Yeah, I read that they had to throw some cargo overboard to stay afloat.

That must have been a tough decision for the crew.

Definitely, but sometimes you have to prioritize safety over everything else.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Definition

To throw away or get rid of something that is no longer needed or wanted, often to lighten a load or reduce burden.

Example

The crew decided to jettison some cargo to keep the ship afloat during the storm.

Tense Forms

Conversation

I had to jettison a lot of old clothes before moving.

That sounds like a good idea! It’s hard to keep everything organized.

Yeah, I realized I was just holding onto things I never wear.

Root Explanation

Jettison → It is formed from "jetter" (from Old French, meaning to throw) and "-son" (a suffix indicating action). The word "jettison" means to throw something overboard or to discard something to lighten a load.

Memory Tip

Think of 'throwing' something away ('jetter') to make things lighter — that's why jettison means to discard or throw away.

Visually Confused Words