jab

American  

[jab] / dʒæb /

verb (used with object)

jabbed, jabbing

1. to poke, or thrust abruptly or sharply, as with the end or point of a stick or with the finger or elbow.

2. to punch with a short, quick blow.

3. Informal. to give (a person) a hypodermic injection, especially of a vaccine: I jab myself with insulin twice a day.

   Here’s a list of the countries you can visit if you haven’t been jabbed.

   I jab myself with insulin twice a day.

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verb (used without object)

jabbed, jabbing

1. to poke or punch with a sharp, quick blow.

noun

1. a poke with the end or point of something; a sharp, quick thrust.

2. a short, quick punch.

3. Informal. a hypodermic injection, especially of a vaccine.

   Have you gotten your flu jab yet?

4. Informal. an abrupt insult or critical remark.

   That guy has no problem responding with a sarcastic jab.

5. a sudden and unpleasant sensation or emotion: He knew she was happier now, but he still felt the slightest jab of guilt.

   I have jabs of pain, numbness, and tingling in my fingers.

   He knew she was happier now, but he still felt the slightest jab of guilt.

jab British  

/ dʒæb /

verb

1. to poke or thrust sharply

2. to strike with a quick short blow or blows

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noun

1. a sharp poke or stab

2. a quick short blow, esp (in boxing) a straight punch with the leading hand

3. informal an injection

   polio jabs

Other Word Forms

• jabbing adjective
• jabbingly adverb

Etymology

Origin of jab

First recorded in 1825–35; variant, originally Scots, of job ²

Explanation

When you jab someone, you poke that person. No one on the school bus wants to sit next to the kid who tends to jab people in their ribs with his sharp elbows. You might accidentally jab a man on the elevator with your umbrella, or jab your annoying brother on purpose when he's talking with his mouth full at dinner. Another kind of jab is a quick, sharp punch, especially the kind you make in martial arts. The word comes from the Scottish job, "to strike, pierce, or thrust," which in turn is rooted in the Middle English jobben, "to jab or thrust."

Example Sentences

Makhmudov's corner urged him to beat Fury to the jab, while Fury's team praised him for boxing "smart".

From BBC • Apr. 11, 2026

It was breathable and didn’t cause rashes on babies, unlike rubber pants that at the time were used over diapers, and it had snaps instead of safety pins, which could jab babies.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 9, 2026

He also took a jab at the private equity industry, which has been the subject of criticism in past missives to his shareholders.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 6, 2026

Working out the puzzle of Flores was key to Scotney's victory but trainer Shane McGuigan gave her the tools to succeed between rounds - urging her to use the jab and rely on footwork.

From BBC • Apr. 5, 2026

Time, time, time, thought Alfred, flicking out the jab.

From "The Contender" by Robert Lipsyte

Related Words

• dig
• punch