blackjack

American  

[blak-jak] / ˈblækˌdʒæk /

noun

1. Cards.

   1. Also called twenty-one. a gambling game in which the object is to obtain from the dealer cards whose values add up to, or close to, 21 but do not exceed it.

   2. a variety of this game in which any player can become dealer.

   3. Also called natural. (in the game of blackjack) an ace together with a ten or a face card as the first two cards dealt.

2. a short, leather-covered club, consisting of a heavy head on a flexible handle, used as a weapon.

3. black flag.

4. a small oak, Quercus marilandica, of the eastern United States, having a nearly black bark and a wood of little value except for fuel.

5. a large drinking cup or jug for beer, ale, etc., originally made of leather coated externally with tar.

6. caramel or burnt sugar for coloring spirits, vinegar, coffee, etc.

7. Mineralogy. a dark, iron-rich variety of sphalerite.

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verb (used with object)

1. to strike or beat with a blackjack.

2. to compel by threat.

blackjack ¹ British  

/ ˈblækˌdʒæk /

noun

1. a truncheon of leather-covered lead with a flexible shaft

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verb

1. (tr) to hit with or as if with a blackjack

2. (tr) to compel (a person) by threats

blackjack ² British  

/ ˈblækˌdʒæk /

noun

1. pontoon or any of various similar card games

2. the ace of spades

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blackjack ³ British  

/ ˈblækˌdʒæk /

noun

1. a dark iron-rich variety of the mineral sphalerite

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blackjack ⁴ British  

/ ˈblækˌdʒæk /

noun

1. Also called: blackjack oak. a small oak tree, Quercus marilandica , of the southeastern US, with blackish bark and fan-shaped leaves

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blackjack ⁵ British  

/ ˈblækˌdʒæk /

noun

1. a tarred leather tankard or jug

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Etymology

Origin of blackjack

First recorded in 1505–15; black + jack ¹

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

blackjack

Ronnie’s job is to gather a team of card counters like himself—experts who can change the odds of a blackjack win, in part through stealthy observation of the dealer—to help them do it.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 9, 2026

A San Francisco Superior Court judge struck down regulations that would ban cardrooms from offering blackjack in California.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 9, 2026

In March, lawmakers introduced bipartisan legislation to prohibit U.S.-regulated prediction markets from listing contracts related to sporting events and casino-style games such as video poker, blackjack and bingo.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 10, 2026

Minimum bets at blackjack and roulette tables inched up.

From The Wall Street Journal ● May 28, 2026

For variety she found straggly mhuvuyu, blackjack weeds, and cooked their leaves as a kind of spinach.

From "A Girl Named Disaster" by Nancy Farmer