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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Noun
That’s some crackerjack dealing from president of baseball operations Jerry Dipoto, who has always been an aggressive trader but has also been limited through the years by a stingy ownership group that has capped the Mariners’ payroll. Pete Grathoff, Kansas City Star, 1 Aug. 2025 Backed by a quartet of crackerjack touring members, the duo opened the show on a high-tech stage filled with flashing, oversize television sets and the glitz kind of felt off brand for the guys. Ross Raihala, Twin Cities, 26 July 2025 Factor in issues related to ego — few artists will risk ceding the spotlight to a crackerjack support cast, let alone fork over a bigger cut of their paycheck to compensate extra personnel — and the notion practically becomes a nonstarter. Bob Gendron, Chicago Tribune, 20 July 2025 Combs’ crackerjack team of attorneys gave him a robust defense, cross-examining witnesses to the point of admonishment from the judge for alleged bullying. Kevin Dolak, HollywoodReporter, 2 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for crackerjack

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

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Cite this Entry

“Crackerjack.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/crackerjack. Accessed 19 Aug. 2025.

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
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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