crackerjack

1 of 2

noun

crack·​er·​jack ˈkra-kər-ˌjak How to pronounce crackerjack (audio)
variants or less commonly crackajack
: a person or thing of marked excellence
crackerjack adjective

Cracker Jack

2 of 2

trademark

Crack·​er Jack ˈkra-kər-ˌjak How to pronounce Cracker Jack (audio)
used for a candied popcorn confection

Examples of crackerjack in a Sentence

Noun a young prospect who's supposed to be a crackerjack on the baseball diamond the cheese maker's aged cheddar is a real crackerjack
Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
If peanuts and crackerjacks are more your speed, catch a Madison Mallards game at Warner Park on the city's north side. Madeline Heim, Journal Sentinel, 26 July 2023 He, too, was drawn to freediving, eventually becoming a crackerjack rescue driver, assigned to guide and, if necessary, save imperiled divers. Chris Vognar, Rolling Stone, 19 July 2023 But what No Hard Feelings does have is a crackerjack Jennifer Lawrence, who manages to be likable even when her dirty deeds are done dirt cheap. Nicholas Bell, SPIN, 21 June 2023 Smiley’s striking self-possession, even as a child, may owe much to her own mother, a crackerjack journalist. Joan Frank, BostonGlobe.com, 15 June 2023 For one of Oregon’s most prolific playwrights, and a crackerjack interpreter of exigent issues, this is a disappointing dabble in the wrong direction. oregonlive, 16 May 2023 Above all else, Winkler is a crackerjack researcher, deftly laying out the myriad questions, arguments and mysteries swirling around Shakespeare. Michael Dirda, Washington Post, 21 Apr. 2023 Fortunately, the boosters and their allies are portrayed by crackerjack performers, including Matt Damon, Jason Bateman, Chris Tucker, Matthew Maher, Julius Tennon, and Marlon Wayans. Peter Rainer, The Christian Science Monitor, 4 Apr. 2023 The quality divide between these two arms of The Wall Street Journal is perennially remarked upon; its reporters have encouragingly managed to maintain a crackerjack operation and a sterling reputation in spite of the obstacles its editorial division throws in their way. Alex Shephard, The New Republic, 28 Oct. 2021

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'crackerjack.' 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

probably alteration of crack entry 3 + jack (man)

First Known Use

Noun

1893, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of crackerjack was in 1893

Podcast

Dictionary Entries Near crackerjack

Cracker Jack

crackerjack

cracker mill

Cite this Entry

“Crackerjack.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/crackerjack. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

crackerjack

noun
crack·​er·​jack ˈkrak-ər-ˌjak How to pronounce crackerjack (audio)
: a person or thing of special excellence
she's a crackerjack at solving crossword puzzles
crackerjack adjective
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