Jeopardy is a danger of harm; the risk of loss. In legal contexts, jeopardy often refers to the risk of criminal liability that a defendant faces at trial. Jeopardy attaches at the moment a prosecution commences - in a jury trial when the jury is empaneled and in a bench trial when the first witness is sworn.
See also double jeopardy.
[Last updated in August of 2021 by the Wex Definitions Team]