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

In those early days when Smith was hitting the blackjack tables, Emery could have easily put Federal Express out of business. —Jerrold Lundquist, Forbes.com, 29 June 2025

According to Roger Frock, an early FedEx executive, with the company’s finances in dire straits, Smith went to Las Vegas with the business’s last $5,000, gambled it at a blackjack table and won $27,000—enough to keep FedEx running. —David Chiu, People.com, 25 June 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