noun
jackpot
JAK-pot
noun
1
A large cash prize, especially in gambling, that grows until someone wins it.
"She hit the jackpot on her first pull of the slot machine."
"The lottery jackpot rolled over again this week."
2
Any unexpected and very welcome windfall.
"Finding a rare first edition at the yard sale was a real jackpot."
How to Use Jackpot
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA big prize, especially a growing cash prize in gambling, or more loosely any lucky windfall.
Common mistake
The phrase is "hit the jackpot," not "win the jackpot," though both are understood.
Common pairings
hit the jackpot
win the jackpot
jackpot prize
Word Forms
jackpotted past tense, jackpots plural, jackpots plural, jackpots singular
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She hit the _____ on her first pull of the slot machine.
Etymology
First recorded around 1944 for a big prize; it comes from an earlier poker term for a pot that only opens once a player holds a pair of jacks or better.