jettison

/ˈdʒɛtɪsən/

Group 19Difficulty 2/3

Definition

(verb)
To throw or drop something from an aircraft or ship; to abandon or discard
GRE

Example in Context

The party leader jettisoned the controversial plank from the platform in a pragmatic bid to broaden the coalition's appeal.

Synonyms

dumpdiscardtoss

Etymology

To throw something away, especially in a desperate situation.

  • jettiare (Latin) — to throw

Memory Aid

✈️Sounds like “jet is on

Picture a plane with a JET that’s ON FIRE and everyone frantically JETTISONING their luggage!

Visual Association

🛩️A pilot throwing suitcases out of an airplane to lighten the load mid-flight!

Semantic Clusters

Synonym Groups

Frequently Asked Questions

What does “jettison” mean on the GRE?

jettison (verb) means “To throw or drop something from an aircraft or ship; to abandon or discard”. The party leader jettisoned the controversial plank from the platform in a pragmatic bid to broaden the coalition's appeal.

How to remember “jettison” for the GRE?

Mnemonic: “jettison” sounds like “jet is on”. Picture a plane with a JET that’s ON FIRE and everyone frantically JETTISONING their luggage!

What are synonyms for “jettison”?

Common synonyms: dump, discard, toss.