# jab

/ˈdʒæb/ (US) · /dʒˈæb/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/jab
Updated: 2026-08-08

## Senses

### 1. medical injection

noun · CEFR B1 · British English · Informal

a medical injection to protect you against a disease.

For teachers: a hypodermic injection, typically for the purpose of vaccination or inoculation.

- I need to go to the clinic to get my flu jab before winter starts.
- Public health officials encouraged citizens to book their booster jab to ensure community immunity levels remained high during the peak season.

Usage: Commonly used in the UK and Commonwealth; American English speakers almost exclusively use 'shot'.

### 2. a quick punch

noun · CEFR B2

a quick, straight punch in boxing.

For teachers: a short, straight punch delivered with the leading hand.

- The boxer used a quick jab to keep his opponent at a distance.
- The trainer emphasized the importance of a stiff jab to set up more powerful combinations later in the round.

### 3. a poke or thrust

noun · CEFR B2

a sharp, sudden poke with a finger or a pointed object.

For teachers: a quick, sharp thrust or poke with a finger, elbow, or pointed instrument.

- He gave me a sharp jab in the ribs to get my attention.
- She felt a sudden jab of pain in her shoulder as she tried to lift the heavy crate onto the shelf.

### 4. a verbal insult

noun · CEFR C1 · Informal

a quick, clever remark intended to criticize or mock someone.

For teachers: a sharp, often witty verbal criticism or insult directed at a person.

- His speech included a few playful jabs at his rival's recent failures.
- The political columnist is known for taking subtle jabs at the administration's economic policies in every Sunday edition.

### 5. to poke or thrust

verb · CEFR B2

to push something sharp or pointed into something else quickly.

For teachers: to poke or thrust abruptly or sharply with a finger or object.

- She jabbed her finger at the map to show us exactly where we were.
- The chef jabbed the meat with a fork to check if it was tender enough to serve.

## Examples

- I went to the clinic to get my flu jab.
- The boxer used a quick jab to keep his opponent at a distance during the first round.
- Public health officials launched a nationwide campaign to ensure every citizen had access to the latest booster jab before the winter season began.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.