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

Synonyms

• bind
• box
• catch-22
• corner
• dilemma
• fix
• hole
• impasse
• jam
• mire
• pickle
• predicament
• quagmire
• rabbit hole
• rattrap
• spot
• sticky wicket
• swamp

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

The big win comes a day after another Fantasy 5 player won a $1.5 million jackpot on June 13, beating odds of 1 in 850,668 to snag the grand prize, according to the lottery’s website. —Tanasia Kenney, Miami Herald, 17 June 2025

The Powerball jackpot was last won May 31, when a California player hit the $204.5 million grand prize. —Don Sweeney, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 17 June 2025

New York has struggled to find a player who can be the best of both worlds for them, and Brian Cashman may have just hit the jackpot. —Drew Vonscio, MSNBC Newsweek, 15 June 2025

Much like a slot machine at a casino, the lucky 7s flashed briefly, appearing as if this would be the time the jackpot hits. —Chris Kirschner, New York Times, 14 June 2025

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