jugular

American  

[juhg-yuh-ler, joo-gyuh-] / ˈdʒʌg yə lər, ˈdʒu gyə- /

adjective

1. Anatomy.

   1. of or relating to the throat or neck.

   2. noting or pertaining to any of certain large veins of the neck, especially one external jugular vein collecting blood from the superficial parts of the head or one internal jugular vein collecting blood from within the skull.

2. (of a fish) having the pelvic fins at the throat, before the pectoral fins.

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noun

1. Anatomy. a jugular vein.

idioms

1. go for the jugular, to attack a vital and vulnerable trait, feature, element, etc., in an attempt to overcome somebody or something swiftly and totally.

   The defense attorney went right for the jugular by attempting to destroy the witness's credibility.

jugular British  

/ ˈdʒʌɡjʊlə /

adjective

1. of, relating to, or situated near the throat or neck

2. of, having, or denoting pelvic fins situated in front of the pectoral fins

   a jugular fish

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noun

1. short for jugular vein

2. to make a savage and destructive attack on an enemy's weakest point

jugular More Idioms  

1. see go for, def. 4.

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Other Word Forms

• interjugular adjective
• postjugular adjective
• subjugular adjective

Etymology

Origin of jugular

1590–1600; < Late Latin jugulāris, equivalent to Latin jugul ( um ) throat ( jugulate ) + -āris -ar ¹

Explanation

Jugular is short for “jugular vein,” the major vein that brings blood from your head to your heart. You can also call any vulnerable area the jugular. If you hear someone say, “Go for the jugular!” Watch out! A serious attack is coming. When lions attack prey, they chomp down on the jugular to kill the animal fast. If your jugular is cut, you could die very quickly without medical help. You can also call your neck and throat the jugular area. Because this is a vulnerable area, you can use this word for other vulnerable things, like a weak spot on a sports team.

Example Sentences

Normal foreign policy considerations regarding conflict with a country of 90 million people situated astride the world’s oil jugular do not come into play.

From Salon • Mar. 14, 2026

“It’s really going for the jugular, and in a major way,” said Hussein Ibish, a senior resident scholar at the Arab Gulf States Institute, a Washington think tank.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 8, 2026

She was smart about how she ordered her argument for a smartphone, starting with logic and then going for the emotional jugular.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 18, 2024

The hosts were invigorated with ball in hand and, with exciting young wing Immanuel Feyi-Waboso to the fore, went for the jugular at the slightest sense of an opportunity to exploit the Irish defence.

From BBC • Mar. 18, 2024

Just over the external jugular vein there were two punctures, not large, but not wholesome-looking.

From "Dracula" by Bram Stoker

Related Words

• gruff
• hoarse