jackpot

American  

[jak-pot] / ˈdʒækˌpɒt /

noun

1. the chief prize or the cumulative stakes in a game or contest, as in bingo, a quiz contest, or a slot machine.

2. Poker. a pot that accumulates until a player opens the betting with a pair of predetermined denomination, usually jacks or better.

3. an outstanding reward or success.

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idioms

1. hit the jackpot,

   1. to achieve a sensational success; have sudden luck.

      The firm has hit the jackpot with its new line of computers.

   2. to win a jackpot.

jackpot British  

/ ˈdʒækˌpɒt /

noun

1. any large prize, kitty, or accumulated stake that may be won in gambling, such as a pool in poker that accumulates until the betting is opened with a pair of jacks or higher

2. 1. to win a jackpot

   2. informal to achieve great success, esp through luck

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jackpot More Idioms  

1. see hit the jackpot.

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Etymology

Origin of jackpot

An Americanism dating back to 1880–85; of uncertain origin

Explanation

A jackpot is a pile of money won during a game such as a poker. It's also any example of good fortune. Originally, a jackpot was a pile of money in poker that accumulated until someone produced a pair of jacks (or something better). These days, a jackpot is any kind of prize, winnings, or success. If you get a high-paying job, you hit the jackpot. If you married a wonderful person, you hit the jackpot. Sometimes a jackpot is specific to a game, like the money won from a hand of 21, but any good fortune can be considered a jackpot.

Example Sentences

With no ticket yet matching all six numbers, the Powerball jackpot will continue to grow until the next drawing — the estimated jackpot currently sits at $45 million.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 12, 2026

Paul Davy, 61, helped keep the group of friends connected throughout the years, after many of them left the company, by sending hopeful emails of a big jackpot win.

From BBC • Apr. 1, 2026

The odds of Bezos attending were high—a potential jackpot for anyone who actually knew his weekend plans, which didn’t involve a trip to Levi’s Stadium.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 6, 2026

If one remains hidden among the remaining players at the end, he or she walks off with the entire jackpot, which could be worth up to $250,000.

From Salon • Jan. 15, 2026

The value of building the jackpot is now outweighed by each contestant’s desire to win the jackpot.

From "Freakonomics: A Rogue Economist Explores the Hidden Side of Everything" by Steven D. Levitt

Related Words

• prize