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
The Powerball jackpot continues to grow after no one matched all six Powerball numbers to win Wednesday's drawing.
—
Chris Sims, IndyStar, 26 Oct. 2025
No one won the jackpot on Monday, but three tickets in New York matched five numbers to win $1 million each.
—Ray Padilla, Louisville Courier Journal, 26 Oct. 2025
Friday’s Cash4Life, Jackpot Triple Play, Fantasy 5 and Mega Millions drawings produced three winners, one in Miami-Dade, of one jackpot.
—David J. Neal, Miami Herald, 25 Oct. 2025
Players can multiply non-jackpot wins up to 10 times when the jackpot is $150 million or less.
—Lorenzino Estrada, AZCentral.com, 25 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for jackpot
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Chris Sims, IndyStar, 26 Oct. 2025
No one won the jackpot on Monday, but three tickets in New York matched five numbers to win $1 million each.
—Ray Padilla, Louisville Courier Journal, 26 Oct. 2025
Friday’s Cash4Life, Jackpot Triple Play, Fantasy 5 and Mega Millions drawings produced three winners, one in Miami-Dade, of one jackpot.
—David J. Neal, Miami Herald, 25 Oct. 2025
Players can multiply non-jackpot wins up to 10 times when the jackpot is $150 million or less.
—Lorenzino Estrada, AZCentral.com, 25 Oct. 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 3 Nov. 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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