jack

In real, traceable use. Part of the curated seed collection; community review is coming.

Meaning · English

A man. — A policeman or detective; (Australia) a military policeman.

Register: slang

Where it’s used: Used American English

Examples

When Wardell arrived on the scene, they were surprised to find that he was unshaven, and did not look too happy. One of them remarked: "The 'Jacks' (detectives) are after you."

Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30)

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30 via kaikki.org).

Common questions

What does “jack” mean?

A man. — A policeman or detective; (Australia) a military policeman.

Is “jack” formal or informal?

jack is generally slang.