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
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
There have been four Mega Millions winners this year, with the most recent being the June 27 win in Virginia of a jackpot of $348 million.
—
Fernando Cervantes Jr, USA Today, 13 Sep. 2025
That’s the largest recent jackpot in the state since June, when an unnamed winner scored a $10 million win from a scratcher bought in Barley Bin Liquor in Whittier, and Steven Muhlestein won a $10 million Super Bonus in May from a scratcher sold at Vintage Wine Shoppe & Liquor in Concord.
—Kyle Martin, Mercury News, 13 Sep. 2025
Where were the Powerball jackpot winners?
—FOXNews.com, 12 Sep. 2025
The player bet $5, hit spin and watched as the symbols flashed across the screen until a jackpot message appeared.
—Helena Wegner, Sacbee.com, 11 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for jackpot
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Fernando Cervantes Jr, USA Today, 13 Sep. 2025
That’s the largest recent jackpot in the state since June, when an unnamed winner scored a $10 million win from a scratcher bought in Barley Bin Liquor in Whittier, and Steven Muhlestein won a $10 million Super Bonus in May from a scratcher sold at Vintage Wine Shoppe & Liquor in Concord.
—Kyle Martin, Mercury News, 13 Sep. 2025
Where were the Powerball jackpot winners?
—FOXNews.com, 12 Sep. 2025
The player bet $5, hit spin and watched as the symbols flashed across the screen until a jackpot message appeared.
—Helena Wegner, Sacbee.com, 11 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for jackpot
Cite this Entry
“Jackpot.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/jackpot. Accessed 15 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationKids 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
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