jugular

1 of 2

noun

jug·​u·​lar ˈjə-gyə-lər 

also

ˈjü- 

also

-g(ə-)lər 

1

: jugular vein

2

: the most vital or vulnerable part of something

showed an instinct for the jugular in competition

jugular

2 of 2

adjective

1

: of or relating to the throat or neck

2

: of or relating to the jugular vein

Synonyms

Noun

• back

Examples of jugular in a Sentence

Noun

a sadistic training instructor who would seek out a recruit's jugular and then go for it

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

The actress manages to pull this off with subtlety and grace in a movie that could have easily gone straight for the emotional jugular. —Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 10 Oct. 2025

Two months before Twilight kicked off the glittery vampire craze, Alan Ball’s True Blood had already put an original, sexy spin on the jugular-draining genre. —Matt Cabral, Entertainment Weekly, 4 Oct. 2025

There will be plenty of temptation to go right for the jugular Monday night against a beleaguered Bengals defense. —Parker Gabriel, Denver Post, 25 Sep. 2025

My bullet had penetrated the neck between the jugular and the bone, missing the spine by a fraction. —Robert Easton, Outdoor Life, 3 Sep. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

Late Latin jugularis, from Latin jugulum collarbone, throat, from jugum yoke — more at yoke

First Known Use

Noun

1615, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adjective

1597, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing jugular

• go for the jugular
• jugular vein

Kids Definition

jugular

adjective

jug·​u·​lar

ˈjəg-yə-lər

1

: of, relating to, or situated in or on the throat or neck

2

: of or relating to the jugular vein

Medical Definition

jugular

1 of 2 adjective

jug·​u·​lar

ˈjəg-yə-lər also ˈjüg- or -(ə-)lər

1

: of or relating to the throat or neck

2

: of or relating to the jugular vein

jugular pulsations

jugular

2 of 2 noun

: jugular vein