blackjack

1 of 2

noun

black·​jack ˈblak-ˌjak 

1

a

: a card game the object of which is to be dealt cards having a higher count than those of the dealer up to but not exceeding 21

called also twenty-one, vingt-et-un

b

: an ace and a face card or ten as the first two cards dealt to a player in the game of blackjack

called also natural, twenty-one

2

: a hand weapon typically consisting of a piece of leather-enclosed metal with a strap or springy shaft for a handle

3

: a tankard for beer or ale usually of tar-coated leather

4

: sphalerite

5

: an often scrubby oak (Quercus marilandica) chiefly of the southeastern U.S.

called also blackjack oak

blackjack

2 of 2

verb

blackjacked; blackjacking; blackjacks

transitive verb

1

: to strike with a blackjack

2

: to coerce with threats or pressure

Synonyms

Verb

• force
• coerce
• compel
• obligate
• oblige
• muscle

Examples of blackjack in a Sentence

Verb

you cannot blackjack me into going along with this

an extortionist trying to blackjack a shopkeeper into paying protection money

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

For example, if someone goes to a blackjack table, bets $100, and wins, that $100 is considered income, and the taxpayer owes taxes on the $100 earned in the same way as someone who goes to work as a barista and earns $100. —Nathan Goldman, Forbes.com, 7 July 2025

The business owner began with $1,000 bets on blackjack, resulting in a $25,000 win her first day, but losses quickly followed, WEWS reported. —Sam Gillette, People.com, 2 July 2025

Verb

The casino may be able to pick up some additional money from tables, after the gaming commission in mid-March allowed craps to resume and blackjack tables to expand. —BostonGlobe.com, 15 Apr. 2021

Word History

Etymology

Noun

black entry 1 + jack entry 1

Verb

derivative of blackjack entry 1

First Known Use

Noun

circa 1540, in the meaning defined at sense 3

Verb

1905, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for blackjack

• aback
• anzac
• attack
• backpack
• backtrack
• bareback
• brownback
• buyback
• callback
• cognac
• comeback
• cutback

Kids Definition

blackjack

noun

black·​jack

ˈblak-ˌjak

1

: a small leather-covered club with a flexible handle

2

: a small oak of the southern U.S. with very dark bark