Meanings
plural jaywalkers
- USA person who violates pedestrian traffic regulations by crossing a street away from a designated crossing or who walks on the part of the street intended for vehicles instead of the part designated for pedestrians.
Origin
From jay (“a stupid person”) + walker; jay walker (“a pedestrian who doesn't pay attention to the road, endangering themselves and obstructing horses, carts, and automobiles”). First use appears c. 1917 in Harper's Magazine. Coined in analogy to the older turn-of-the-20th-century term jay driver (“a driver who doesn't pay attention to the road, endangering horses, carts, bicyclists, and pedestrians”). Promoted by driving enthusiasts and automotive concerns to clear the roads of obstructive pedestrians by making it illegal to walk in the middle of roads.
Full word history & related roots →Translations
Czech neopatrný chodec
- neopatrný chodecone who jaywalks
Danish fumlegænger
- fumlegængerone who jaywalks
German but see unachtsamer Fußgänger, unachtsame Fußgängerin
- but see unachtsamer Fußgängerone who jaywalks
- unachtsame Fußgängerinone who jaywalks
- die Verkehrsregeln missachtender Fußgängerone who jaywalks
- die Verkehrsregeln missachtende Fußgängerinone who jaywalks
Hungarian szabálytalanul átkelő gyalogos
- szabálytalanul átkelő gyalogosone who jaywalks
Norwegian rågjenger
- rågjengerone who jaywalks
Russian неосторо́жный пешехо́д
- неосторо́жный пешехо́д (neostoróžnyj pešexód)one who jaywalks
Spanish peatón imprudente
- peatón imprudenteone who jaywalks
Swedish but see oförsiktig fotgängare, vårdslös fotgängare
- but see oförsiktig fotgängareone who jaywalks
- vårdslös fotgängareone who jaywalks
Cite this entry
jaywalker. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/jaywalker
“jaywalker.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/jaywalker. Accessed November 3, 2026.
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “jaywalker,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/jaywalker.
Source: jaywalker on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.