Jaywalker: meaning, definitions and examples

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jaywalker

 

[ ˈdʒeɪˌwɔːkər ]

Noun
Context #1 | Noun

urban

A person who crosses a street or road without regard for traffic regulations or signals.

Synonyms

crosser, pedestrian, unlawful walker

Examples of usage

  • The city has been cracking down on jaywalkers in the downtown area.
  • The jaywalker was lucky to avoid getting hit by a car.
Context #2 | Noun

informal

A person who walks in a reckless or careless manner, often putting themselves or others in danger.

Synonyms

careless pedestrian, dangerous crosser, reckless walker

Examples of usage

  • He's such a jaywalker, always bumping into things.
  • Don't be a jaywalker and pay attention to where you're going.

Translations

Translations of the word "jaywalker" in other languages:

🇵🇹 pedestre imprudente

🇮🇳 सड़क पार करने वाला पैदल यात्री

🇩🇪 unachtsamer Fußgänger

🇮🇩 pejalan kaki yang melanggar aturan

🇺🇦 пішохід-порушник

🇵🇱 nieostrożny pieszy

🇯🇵 信号無視の歩行者

🇫🇷 piéton imprudent

🇪🇸 peatón imprudente

🇹🇷 dikkatsiz yaya

🇰🇷 무단횡단하는 보행자

🇸🇦 مشاة متهور

🇨🇿 neopatrný chodec

🇸🇰 neopatrný chodec

🇨🇳 乱穿马路的行人

🇸🇮 neprevidni pešec

🇮🇸 óvarkár gangandi

🇰🇿 сақсыз жүргінші

🇬🇪 გაუფრთხილებელი ქვეითი

🇦🇿 ehtiyatsız piyadalar

🇲🇽 peatón imprudente

Etymology

The term 'jaywalker' originated in the early 20th century in the United States. It was originally used to describe someone from the countryside or a 'jay' who was unfamiliar with the ways of the city and would walk in a naive or careless manner, often obstructing traffic. Over time, the term evolved to specifically refer to pedestrians who cross streets unlawfully or in a reckless manner.

Word Frequency Rank

With rank #42,974, this word is among the least frequently used in common English. Understanding it can be beneficial for comprehensive language mastery, but it's not essential for most learners.