jumbo

[juhm-boh]

noun

plural

jumbos 

1. a very large person, animal, or thing.

2. jumbo jet.

3. U.S. Nautical.

   1. a forestaysail having a boom jumbo boom along its foot, used especially on schooners.

   2. a sail used in place of a course on a square-rigged ship, having the form of an isosceles triangle set apex downward.

   3. a narrow triangular sail set point downward in place of a foresail on a topsail schooner.

adjective

1. very large.

   the jumbo box of cereal.

jumbo

/ ˈdʒʌmbəʊ /

noun

1. informal

   1. a very large person or thing

   2. ( as modifier )

      a jumbo box of detergent

2. See jumbo jet

Word History and Origins

Origin of jumbo¹

First recorded in 1800–10; origin uncertain; popularized as the name of a large elephant purchased and exhibited by P.T. Barnum in 1882

Word History and Origins

Origin of jumbo¹

C19: after the name of a famous elephant exhibited by P. T. Barnum, from Swahili jumbe chief

Example Sentences

In the first of three immersive rooms, a dizzying 360-degree video introduces guests to the story of Jesus’ life from his baptism to the crucifixion — including that jumbo last supper.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

“It is a lot of legal mumbo jumbo.”

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

The “jumbo IPO pipeline” remains strong with more $1 billion in IPOs expected before year-end, they add.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Yields on Meta’s bonds jumped after the company said it was looking to raise at least $25 billion from a jumbo debt sale.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

“It’s not the America I was raised in,” said Wolf as she watched the Cubs on a jumbo screen TV outside the ballpark.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• colossal 
• oversized www.thesaurus.com