1
a
: the top prize in a game or contest (such as a lottery) that is typically a large fund of money formed by the accumulation of unwon prizes
b(1)
: a hand or game of draw poker in which a pair of jacks or better is required to open
(2)
: a large pot (as in poker) formed by the accumulation of stakes from previous play
c(1)
: a combination on a slot machine that wins a top prize or all the coins available for paying out
(2)
: the sum so won
2
: an impressive often unexpected success or reward
3
chiefly Western US
: a tight spot : jam
Examples of jackpot in a Sentence
The lottery jackpot is up to one million dollars.
a wily dude who managed to get himself out of one jackpot after another
Recent Examples on the Web
The jackpot prize was won Feb. 17 in the Lotto Texas game and was the largest jackpot offered in the game since April 2023.
—
Mike Stunson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 19 Feb. 2025
The odds of scoring a jackpot prize are 1 in 302,575,350.
—Jennifer Rodriguez, Kansas City Star, 16 Feb. 2025
Did anyone win the Powerball? Check here Sunday morning to see if anyone won the Feb. 15 Powerball jackpot.
—Fernando Cervantes Jr., USA TODAY, 15 Feb. 2025
Cash 5 is a game with a rolling jackpot that starts at $100,000 and keeps growing until someone matches all five numbers.
—Mark Price, Charlotte Observer, 13 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for jackpot
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Mike Stunson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 19 Feb. 2025
The odds of scoring a jackpot prize are 1 in 302,575,350.
—Jennifer Rodriguez, Kansas City Star, 16 Feb. 2025
Did anyone win the Powerball? Check here Sunday morning to see if anyone won the Feb. 15 Powerball jackpot.
—Fernando Cervantes Jr., USA TODAY, 15 Feb. 2025
Cash 5 is a game with a rolling jackpot that starts at $100,000 and keeps growing until someone matches all five numbers.
—Mark Price, Charlotte Observer, 13 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for jackpot
Cite this Entry
“Jackpot.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/jackpot. Accessed 4 Mar. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
jackpot
noun
jack·pot
ˈjak-ˌpät 
1
: a large poker pot formed by the accumulation of stakes from previous play
2
a
: a combination on a slot machine that wins a top prize or all the coins in the machine
b
: the sum so won
3
: a great often unexpected success or reward
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