jaywalking

IPA/ˈdʒeɪwɔːkɪŋ/
KK[dʒˈewˌɔkɪŋ]IPA/ˈdʒeɪwɔːkɪŋ/

jaywalking — noun

1. the offence of crossing a road where there is no marked pedestrian crossing, or

1.nounB1
Definition

the offence of crossing a road where there is no marked pedestrian crossing, or when the traffic signal tells you to stop, rather than waiting for a safe moment to cross

Example

Selim received a fine for jaywalking across the busy road near the train station.

receive + fine for jaywalking

The traffic officer warned the teenagers not to go jaywalking on the main avenue.

Common collocations
  • jaywalking ticket
  • jaywalking fine
  • jaywalking accident
  • jaywalking law
  • charge someone with jaywalking
  • a case of jaywalking
Synonyms
Antonyms

Usage Note

Jaywalking is a mass (uncountable) noun and is not used with an article except in constructions such as 'a case of jaywalking'. The term is most common in North American legal and urban contexts; British English more often uses phrases such as 'crossing the road illegally'.

Common Mistakes

The police gave him a jaywalking.
The police gave him a ticket for jaywalking.
jaywalking is uncountable and cannot follow 'a' directly.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

Jaywalking is the most specific term — it refers to crossing a road illegally or unsafely, and it carries a legal meaning: you can receive a ticket for it. 'Crossing illegally' is a broader phrase that covers any unlawful crossing, whether on foot or in a vehicle, and it lacks the informal, pedestrian-focused connotation of jaywalking. 'Pedestrian violation' is a formal legal term used by police and courts to describe any rule-breaking by a person on foot, not just crossing the road — it could include walking on a highway where pedestrians are banned. 'Careless walking' is a descriptive phrase rather than a legal term; it focuses on the lack of attention rather than the illegality. For everyday conversation, jaywalking is the most natural choice. A ticket for jaywalking is common in big cities, but you would not say 'I got a ticket for careless walking'.

jaywalking ↗crossing illegallypedestrian violationcareless walking

Common collocations

Nouns

  • jaywalking ticket
  • jaywalking fine
  • jaywalking accident
  • jaywalking law

Adverbs

Phrases

  • charge someone with jaywalking
  • a case of jaywalking
  • a crackdown on jaywalking

Prepositions

  • for jaywalking
  • of jaywalking

Etymology

English (American slang)English

Jaywalking combines 'jay,' an early-1900s American slang term for a foolish, inexperienced person (from the jaybird, considered a noisy, gullible bird), with 'walking.' The word was promoted in the 1910s–1920s by automobile lobbies and traffic safety campaigns to blame pedestrians — rather than drivers — for accidents, by labelling anyone who crossed outside a marked crosswalk as a foolish 'jay.'