crackerjack

American  

[krak-er-jak] / ˈkræk ərˌdʒæk /

noun

1. a person or thing that shows marked ability or excellence.

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adjective

1. of marked ability; exceptionally fine.

crackerjack British  

/ ˈkrækəˌdʒæk /

adjective

1. excellent

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noun

1. a person or thing of exceptional quality or ability

Etymology

Origin of crackerjack

1890–95, earlier crackajack, rhyming compound based on crack (adjective); -a- as in blackamoor ( def. ); jack ¹ ( def. ) in sense “fellow, buddy”

Explanation

Someone who's a crackerjack is really good at what they do. A crackerjack of a magician will amaze you with every trick she performs. You can use the word crackerjack for any excellent thing or person — you might say, for example, that your new car is a crackerjack or compliment your friend on her crackerjack of a performance at the school talent show. Crackerjack is an informal word that can be a noun or an adjective — and it's also the name of the caramel-covered popcorn and nuts you might buy at a baseball game.

Example Sentences

In the film, Reeve can brood as well as he can smolder, punch as precisely as he can deliver a crackerjack line of dialogue.

From Salon • Jul. 10, 2025

Above all else, Winkler is a crackerjack researcher, deftly laying out the myriad questions, arguments and mysteries swirling around Shakespeare.

From Washington Post • Apr. 21, 2023

But it’s a crackerjack example of the form; DiCaprio is hauntingly good as a U.S.

From New York Times • Jan. 30, 2023

Besides, Washington Times columnist Michael McKenna did a crackerjack piece last Thursday, “Who is the real threat to democracy?”

From Washington Times • Sep. 5, 2022

“Kindly invite your network of crackerjack librarians all across this country to organize regional competitions.”

From "Mr. Lemoncello's Library Olympics" by Chris Grabenstein