jaywalking

noun

jay·​walk·​ing ˈjā-ˌwȯ-kiŋ 

: the act of crossing a street in an illegal, careless, or unsafe manner

Sidewalks overflow with people during lunch and rush hours, intersections become clogged, and jaywalking is a Pittsburgh tradition.

—Joe Grata

—often used before another noun

jaywalking tickets

jaywalking laws

Examples of jaywalking in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Many are relatively obvious, including not raising voices, littering, or jaywalking. — Catherine Heald, Travel + Leisure, 22 June 2026

On June 7, Fort Morgan police say Abade was cited for theft and jaywalking. — Christa Swanson, CBS News, 11 June 2026

The team who completed the 2021 project identified speeding, cut-through traffic, jaywalking, accessibility and the number of crashes as issues along the corridor, the report said. — Angie Dimichele, Sun Sentinel, 2 June 2026

Juveniles can also receive citations for participating in certain activities while at these events, including trespassing, jaywalking, pedestrian violations and simple battery. — Carolyn Stein, Chicago Tribune, 28 May 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1910, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for jaywalking

• restocking
• sleepwalking
• unlocking
• blocking
• calking
• caulking
• chalking
• clocking
• cocking
• docking
• flocking
• gawking