jerk
In real, traceable use. Part of the curated seed collection; community review is coming.
Sense 1
Meaning · English
A person with unlikable or obnoxious qualities and behavior, typically mean, immoral, self-centered, or disagreeable.
Register: derogatory, slang
Where it’s used:
Used
American English
Examples
I finally fired him, because he was being a real jerk to his customers, even to some of the staff.
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).
Sense 2
Meaning · English
A stupid person; an idiot or fool.
Register: derogatory, slang
Sources & notes
Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30 via kaikki.org).
Common questions
What does “jerk” mean?
A person with unlikable or obnoxious qualities and behavior, typically mean, immoral, self-centered, or disagreeable.
Is “jerk” formal or informal?
jerk is generally derogatory, slang.