# jumbo

/ˈdʒəmboʊ/ (US) · /dʒˈʌmbəʊ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/jumbo
Updated: 2026-08-15

## Senses

### 1. very large

adjective · CEFR B1

much larger than the standard or normal size.

For teachers: denoting a size significantly larger than the standard or average for its class.

- The cinema sells a jumbo bucket of popcorn that is big enough for three people.
- The manufacturer released a jumbo version of the storage unit to accommodate the needs of industrial clients with excessive inventory.

### 2. a large airplane

noun · CEFR B2 · Informal

a very large airplane that can carry many passengers over long distances.

For teachers: a high-capacity, wide-body commercial aircraft designed for long-haul flights.

- We watched the jumbo take off from the runway and disappear into the clouds.
- Despite the rise of smaller, more fuel-efficient planes, the jumbo remains an iconic symbol of the golden age of international aviation.

### 3. an elephant

noun · CEFR C1 · Informal

a traditional name for an elephant, or a way to refer to one.

For teachers: a common name or reference for an elephant, derived from the famous nineteenth-century circus animal.

- The children at the zoo were excited to see the big jumbo eating hay.
- The term became a household name after the London Zoo sold its famous African elephant, Jumbo, to a circus in the United States.

## Examples

- I ordered a jumbo popcorn at the movie theater.
- The airline replaced its smaller fleet with jumbo jets to accommodate the high volume of passengers on international routes.
- The marketing department decided that a jumbo display would be necessary to capture the attention of commuters in the crowded station.

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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.