jackpot

noun

jack·​pot ˈjak-ˌpät 

1

a

: the top prize in a game or contest (such as a lottery) that is typically a large fund of money formed by the accumulation of unwon prizes

b(1)

: a hand or game of draw poker in which a pair of jacks or better is required to open

(2)

: a large pot (as in poker) formed by the accumulation of stakes from previous play

c(1)

: a combination on a slot machine that wins a top prize or all the coins available for paying out

(2)

: the sum so won

2

: an impressive often unexpected success or reward

3

chiefly Western US : a tight spot : jam

see also:

hit the jackpot

Synonyms of jackpot

• predicament
• pickle
• dilemma
• hole
• jam
• corner

Examples of jackpot in a Sentence

The lottery jackpot is up to one million dollars.

a wily dude who managed to get himself out of one jackpot after another

Recent Examples on the Web

One jackpot rolled over and the other was won by a player at a 7-Eleven. — David J. Neal, Miami Herald, 24 Aug. 2026

The game is also in the midst of its biggest expansion in years, with players in the United Kingdom now joining Americans in the race for jackpots that could grow even faster when no winning ticket is sold. — Fernando Cervantes Jr, USA Today, 23 Aug. 2026

Lucky Day Lotto is an Illinois-only game with two daily drawings in the afternoon and evening, with jackpots starting at $100,000. — Jeramie Bizzle, CBS News, 18 Aug. 2026

Thunder Valley has paid out more than 251,000 jackpots over the past year, averaging nearly 700 jackpots per day, or roughly one every 2 minutes. — Don Sweeney, Sacbee.com, 16 Aug. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1865, in the meaning defined at sense 1b(1)

Phrases Containing jackpot

• hit the jackpot

Rhymes for jackpot

• allot
• barat
• begot
• besought
• bethought
• bloodshot
• boycott
• buckshot
• crackpot
• croat
• culottes
• dashpot

Kids Definition

jackpot

noun

jack·​pot ˈjak-ˌpät 

1

: a large poker pot formed by the accumulation of stakes from previous play

2

a

: a combination on a slot machine that wins a top prize or all the coins in the machine

b

: the sum so won

3

: a great often unexpected success or reward