Word
blackjack
Phoneticsblack·jack, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈbɫækˌdʒæk/
UK/blˈækdʒæk/
Uncountable noun Gambling
Definition
n. a popular card game played in casinos where you try to get a total of 21 points. You win if your hand is higher than the dealer's without going over the limit.
n. a gambling card game in which players attempt to acquire cards with a face value totalling 21, or as close to 21 as possible without exceeding it. Often played against a dealer rather than other players.
Examples
“He won a hundred dollars playing blackjack at the casino.”
“The dealer shuffled the deck and dealt two cards to every player at the blackjack table.”
“Professional gamblers often employ basic strategy to minimize the house edge in blackjack, though casinos remain vigilant against those who attempt to track the deck through card counting.”
Examples
simple
“He won a hundred dollars playing blackjack at the casino.”
contextual
“The dealer shuffled the deck and dealt two cards to every player at the blackjack table.”
complex
“Professional gamblers often employ basic strategy to minimize the house edge in blackjack, though casinos remain vigilant against those who attempt to track the deck through card counting.”
Usage
Uncountable when referring to the game itself; countable when referring to a hand of cards totalling 21.
Real-World Examples
“The actor, whose wife is from Vegas, finds a hotel room with a basketball court and loses big at blackjack.” “The Back-Spotter can count cards without even being seated at the blackjack table.” Etymology
From black + jack.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Domain
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
- アルファベット
- 読み方の一覧 →
QR code
englishreference.com/q/blackjack