jaywalk

verb jay·walk \ ˈjā-ˌwȯk \

|Updated on: 25 May 2018

Examples: jaywalk in a Sentence

Definition of jaywalk

jaywalked; jaywalking; jaywalks

intransitive verb

: to cross a street carelessly or in an illegal manner so as to be endangered by traffic

—

jaywalker

noun

See jaywalk defined for English-language learners

See jaywalk defined for kids

Examples of jaywalk in a Sentence

The police officer warned us not to jaywalk.

Recent Examples of jaywalk from the Web

They are supposed to reduce jaywalking and increase safety.

— ben brasch, ajc, "Cobb adds radar signs near where crossing guard was fatally hit," 14 May 2018
Minor offenses are often the target of facial recognition software in China, like jaywalking.

— david grossman, Popular Mechanics, "Chinese Facial Recognition Recognizes Wanted Man in Crowd of 60,000," 13 Apr. 2018
And these kinds of incidents, in which a stop over a minor offense like jaywalking can escalate into the police beating someone, are a major reason that police have lost so much trust and legitimacy from the black community.

— german lopez, Vox, "“I can’t breathe”: black man pleads as police officer punches and chokes him," 3 Apr. 2018
That video begins as Hickman and his partner stop Rush, then 32, for allegedly jaywalking in the early morning hours of August 25, 2017.

— eric levenson, CNN, "North Carolina city to release bodycam videos related to beating of jaywalking suspect," 2 Apr. 2018
That night, a self-driving Volvo operated by Uber struck and killed a pedestrian who was jaywalking on Mill Avenue near Arizona State University.

— ryan randazzo, azcentral, "Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey suspends testing of Uber self-driving cars," 26 Mar. 2018
This comes just one day after officials released a video from 2017 showing Officer Christopher Hickman subduing and punching Johnnie Jermaine Rush, 33, for allegedly jaywalking.

— paulina dedaj, Fox News, "Sheriff slams county's call for more police training as a 'slap in the face,' says it drives 'anti-law enforcement agenda'," 4 Apr. 2018
Johnnie Rush was accused of nothing more than jaywalking.

— german lopez, Vox, "“I can’t breathe”: black man pleads as police officer punches and chokes him," 3 Apr. 2018
In China, the jaywalking system is aided by the fact that every person in Shenzhen is legally required to have their information registered with the police after 30 days in the city.

— david grossman, Popular Mechanics, "Chinese Facial Recognition System Would Fine Jaywalkers By Text," 28 Mar. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'jaywalk.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

First Known Use of jaywalk

1915

in the meaning defined above

See Words from the same year

NEW! Time Traveler

JAYWALK Defined for English Language Learners

jaywalk

verb

Definition of jaywalk for English Language Learners

: to cross a street carelessly or at an illegal or dangerous place

JAYWALK Defined for Kids

jaywalk

verb jay·walk \ ˈjā-ˌwȯk \

Definition of jaywalk for Students

jaywalked; jaywalking

: to cross a street in a place or in a way that is against traffic regulations

—

jaywalker

noun

Law Dictionary

jaywalk

intransitive verb jay·walk \ ˈjā-ˌwȯk \

legal Definition of jaywalk

: to cross a street carelessly or in an illegal manner so as to be endangered by traffic

Learn More about jaywalk

See words that rhyme with jaywalk Spanish Central: Translation of jaywalk Nglish: Translation of jaywalk for Spanish speakers

Seen and Heard

What made you want to look up jaywalk? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

show

jaywalk

Definition of jaywalk

jaywalker

Examples of jaywalk in a Sentence

Recent Examples of jaywalk from the Web

First Known Use of jaywalk

JAYWALK Defined for English Language Learners

jaywalk

Definition of jaywalk for English Language Learners

JAYWALK Defined for Kids

jaywalk

Definition of jaywalk for Students

jaywalker

Law Dictionary

jaywalk

legal Definition of jaywalk

Learn More about jaywalk

Seen and Heard

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Words at Play

Ask the Editors

Word Games

Words We're Watching: 'B side'

Trending: DOJ Describes Comey as 'Insubordinate'

Name More Food!

9 Words for Transnational Currencies

Ghost Word