jerky

1 of 2

adjective

jerkier; jerkiest
1
a
: moving along with or marked by fits and starts
b
: characterized by abrupt transitions
2
jerkily adverb
jerkiness noun

jerky

2 of 2

noun

jer·​ky ˈjər-kē How to pronounce jerky (audio)
: jerked meat

Examples of jerky in a Sentence

Adjective The movie was jerky and hard to watch. made jerky progress walking with the new crutches
Recent Examples on the Web
These examples are automatically compiled from online sources to illustrate current usage. Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Adjective
Grab a kombucha and jerky on the way out from the doctors lounge and head home. R29 Team, refinery29.com, 16 Oct. 2024 Combine high-protein foods like cottage cheese, Greek yogurt, tuna, eggs, or jerky with high-fiber foods like fruits, vegetables, and whole-grain crackers. Johna Burdeos, Health, 8 Oct. 2024
Noun
The latest Buc-ee’s outpost will reportedly feature 120 fuel pumps and, naturally, more than 20 types of jerky from which to choose (Hill Country Peppered Beef, naturally). Melissa Locker, Southern Living, 18 Oct. 2024 Still, this outrageously funky genre blend — a pitch-black horror comedy about screwy siblings turning motorists and motel guests into scrumptious jerky — deserves its a special spot in the greater midnight movie pantry. Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 11 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for jerky 

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

jerk entry 2 + -y entry 1

Noun

borrowed from American Spanish charqui (borrowed from southern Peruvian Quechua ch'arki), conformed to jerk entry 4 and earlier jerked

First Known Use

Adjective

1670, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Noun

1850, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of jerky was in 1670

Dictionary Entries Near jerky

Cite this Entry

“Jerky.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/jerky. Accessed 7 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

jerky

1 of 2 noun
jer·​ky
ˈjər-kē
: jerked meat

jerky

2 of 2 adjective
ˈjər-kē
jerkier; jerkiest
1
: marked by jerks
a jerky ride on a dirt road
2
jerkily
-kə-lē
adverb
jerkiness
-kē-nəs
noun
Etymology

Noun

from Spanish charqui "jerky," from Quechua ch'arki

Adjective

jerk (noun) and -y (adjective suffix)

More from Merriam-Webster on jerky

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