cheapjack

1 of 2

noun

cheap·​jack ˈchēp-ˌjak How to pronounce cheapjack (audio)
1
: a haggling huckster
2
: a dealer in cheap merchandise

cheapjack

2 of 2

adjective

1
: being inferior, cheap, or worthless
cheapjack movie companies
2
: unscrupulously opportunistic
cheapjack speculators

Examples of cheapjack in a Sentence

Adjective a cheapjack little watch that I wear on camping trips
Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
In the basements and dive bars a very different sound was happening -- and not just the sound of bottles of cheapjack whiskey smashing against the walls. John Petkovic, cleveland.com, 11 Jan. 2018

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'cheapjack.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Noun

cheap + the name Jack

First Known Use

Noun

1851, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adjective

1865, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of cheapjack was in 1851

Dictionary Entries Near cheapjack

Cite this Entry

“Cheapjack.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cheapjack. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!