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blackjack

noun
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black·​jack | \ ˈblak-ˌjak How to pronounce blackjack (audio) \

Definition of blackjack

 (Entry 1 of 2)

1a : 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 [black + jack (vessel)] : 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

verb
blackjacked; blackjacking; blackjacks

Definition of blackjack (Entry 2 of 2)

transitive verb

1 : to strike with a blackjack
2 : to coerce with threats or pressure
Synonyms Example Sentences Learn More about blackjack

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Examples of blackjack in a Sentence

Verb you cannot blackjack me into going along with this a couple of thugs trying to blackjack a shopkeeper into paying protection money
Recent Examples on the Web: Noun Gaming options include minibaccarat, double-deck blackjack, face-up pai gow poker and queen’s dragon pai gow poker. — Ron Donoho Writer, San Diego Union-Tribune, "Openings, renovations move forward at area’s casinos," 13 Dec. 2020 Gaming options include more than 1,000 slot machines and 19 table games, including $3 blackjack. — Ron Donoho Writer, San Diego Union-Tribune, "What you need to know about the area’s 10 casinos," 10 Dec. 2020 So, on Friday morning, the couple were walking not to the blackjack table at the D Hotel, but to the nearby Mob Museum to learn little about organized crime. — Randy Diamond, ExpressNews.com, "Leaving Las Vegas — to its own devices; this holiday season, many tourists are avoiding Sin City," 27 Nov. 2020 The introduction of sports betting, much of it on mobile devices, has also sparked an increase in online wagering on other casino games, such as blackjack. — Christopher Palmeri, Bloomberg.com, "Bally’s Betting Spree Includes Online Deal, Sinclair Partnership," 19 Nov. 2020 Would allow the manufacture, sale and possession of brass knuckles, cestus, billy, blackjack, sandbag, switchblade knife, springblade knife, gravity knife or similar weapon. — Jessie Balmert, The Enquirer, "'Quite a few ornaments:' Ohio gun policy overhaul would expand concealed carry, stand your ground," 18 Nov. 2020 Steppenwolf has chosen instead to double-down at the blackjack table. — Chris Jones, chicagotribune.com, "Rising in a pandemic, Steppenwolf’s new theater campus is a $54 million bet on returning to normalcy," 12 Nov. 2020 Sports broadcaster Craig Carton had it all — until a blackjack addiction led to prison. — Neal Justin, Star Tribune, "'The Good Lord Bird' and four other shows our TV critic is watching this week," 2 Oct. 2020 Unlike Ohio and Indiana, however, Kentucky doesn't allow betting on table games, such as poker and blackjack, or betting on standard slot machines. — Randy Tucker, The Enquirer, "Churchill Downs to open $38M off-track horse-betting site Friday in Newport, Ky.," 29 Sep. 2020

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'blackjack.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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First Known Use of blackjack

Noun

circa 1540, in the meaning defined at sense 3

Verb

1905, in the meaning defined at sense 1

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Time Traveler for blackjack

Time Traveler

The first known use of blackjack was circa 1540

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Statistics for blackjack

Last Updated

15 Jan 2021

Cite this Entry

“Blackjack.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/blackjack. Accessed 17 Jan. 2021.

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More Definitions for blackjack

blackjack

noun
How to pronounce blackjack (audio)

English Language Learners Definition of blackjack

: a card game in which the players try to get a score that is higher than that of the dealer but less than or equal to 21
: a small leather-covered metal club used as a hand weapon

See the full definition for blackjack in the English Language Learners Dictionary

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More from Merriam-Webster on blackjack

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for blackjack

Nglish: Translation of blackjack for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about blackjack

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