jackpot

noun

jack·​pot ˈjak-ˌpät 

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

Synonyms

• bind
• box
• catch-22
• corner
• dilemma
• fix
• hole
• impasse
• jam
• mire
• pickle
• predicament
• quagmire
• rabbit hole
• rattrap
• spot
• sticky wicket
• swamp

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

Saturday’s Powerball big haul will be $123 million and the Florida Lotto jackpot will be $2.25 million after nobody won either. —David J. Neal, Miami Herald, 15 May 2025

In terms of casino layouts, there is a superstition that slot machines that are placed at the end of a row, in a prominent position or close to a main doorway are more likely to pay out big jackpots than those hidden in quieter spots, Phelan says. —Brittany Anas, Forbes.com, 15 May 2025

To win the jackpot, players must match all five white balls in any order and the red Powerball. —Fernando Cervantes Jr, USA Today, 14 May 2025

Lotto 47 costs $1 per ticket, and has players choose six numbers — one through 47 — for a chance to win a $1 million jackpot, which increases until someone wins. —Rachel Raposas, People.com, 12 May 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1865, in the meaning defined at sense 1b(1)

Phrases Containing jackpot

• hit the jackpot

Rhymes for jackpot

• allot
• barat
• begot
• besought
• bethought
• bloodshot
• boycott
• buckshot
• crackpot
• croat
• culottes
• dashpot

Kids 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