1
a
: a heavy military boot made of glossy black leather extending above the knee and worn especially during the 17th and 18th centuries
b
: a laceless military boot reaching to the calf
2
: the spirit or policy of militarism or totalitarianism
Examples of jackboot in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
As a rebuke to warmongers, a monument from one Hohenzollern despot to another seems inapt and more like a hint to keep those hobnail jackboots handy.
—
Brian T. Allen, National Review, 1 Apr. 2023
Or two pebbles in the same jackboot?
—Kevin D. Williamson, National Review, 6 June 2021
While Wilson was crushing market freedom under the state’s remorseless jackboot, the young people of Swinging London were shagging their brains out.
—Michael Tomasky, The New Republic, 6 Sep. 2022
Instead of creating same-jackboot-different-day dystopias like Logan's Run or Make Room!
—Madeline Ashby, Wired, 1 Dec. 2021
There’s simply no other way to characterize Waldegrave and Henderson in light of this accusation than as jackboot Jacobins with nothing to their name but fourth-rate moral fiber and an axe to grind.
—Cameron Hilditch, National Review, 4 Dec. 2020
But then the other shoe — or jackboot — dropped, and any celebration of Tokarczuk’s work was hijacked by a fresh controversy: The Swedish Academy awarded the 2019 Nobel Prize in literature to Peter Handke.
—Ron Charles, Washington Post, 10 Oct. 2019
As with arguably all of the artist’s works, the naked man is unreasonably handsome; glossy jackboots of uniformed men surround him.
—R. Daniel Foster, Los Angeles Times, 2 Oct. 2019
As the Nazis seize power and stamp down their jackboots on Jewish communities and left-leaning intellectuals throughout Europe, many flee to the United States.
—Trevor Lipscombe, Time, 2 Aug. 2019
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Brian T. Allen, National Review, 1 Apr. 2023
Or two pebbles in the same jackboot?
—Kevin D. Williamson, National Review, 6 June 2021
While Wilson was crushing market freedom under the state’s remorseless jackboot, the young people of Swinging London were shagging their brains out.
—Michael Tomasky, The New Republic, 6 Sep. 2022
Instead of creating same-jackboot-different-day dystopias like Logan's Run or Make Room!
—Madeline Ashby, Wired, 1 Dec. 2021
There’s simply no other way to characterize Waldegrave and Henderson in light of this accusation than as jackboot Jacobins with nothing to their name but fourth-rate moral fiber and an axe to grind.
—Cameron Hilditch, National Review, 4 Dec. 2020
But then the other shoe — or jackboot — dropped, and any celebration of Tokarczuk’s work was hijacked by a fresh controversy: The Swedish Academy awarded the 2019 Nobel Prize in literature to Peter Handke.
—Ron Charles, Washington Post, 10 Oct. 2019
As with arguably all of the artist’s works, the naked man is unreasonably handsome; glossy jackboots of uniformed men surround him.
—R. Daniel Foster, Los Angeles Times, 2 Oct. 2019
As the Nazis seize power and stamp down their jackboots on Jewish communities and left-leaning intellectuals throughout Europe, many flee to the United States.
—Trevor Lipscombe, Time, 2 Aug. 2019
See More
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'jackboot.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
First Known Use
1686, in the meaning defined at sense 1a
Dictionary Entries Near jackboot
Cite this Entry
“Jackboot.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/jackboot. Accessed 22 Sep. 2023.
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Kids Definition
jackboot
noun
jack·boot
-ˌbüt 
: a heavy military boot
especially
: one reaching above the knee
More from Merriam-Webster on jackboot
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about jackboot
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