jaywalk
verb
jay·walk ˈjā-ˌwȯk 
jaywalked; jaywalking; jaywalks
intransitive verb
: to cross a street carelessly or in an illegal manner so as to be endangered by traffic
jaywalker noun
Example Sentences
The police officer warned us not to jaywalk.
Recent Examples on the Web And a crosswalk for the people in the apartment who jaywalk. 
Doug Smithsenior Writer, Los Angeles Times, 1 May 2022 Four signs in the median warned people not to jaywalk there, directing them to a crosswalk 380 feet away. Lauren Smiley, Wired, 8 Mar. 2022 He also was ordered not to block traffic, not jaywalk but use a crosswalk, and if driving, stick to lanes of traffic. oregonlive, 23 Sep. 2021 If walkers sometimes jaywalk to reach their destination, that’s a design flaw rather than a human flaw. Laura Blasey, Los Angeles Times, 23 Sep. 2021 From this data, analyses can reveal where the public is most tempted to jaywalk or where human drivers tend to be least attentive to the rights of pedestrians. Lance Eliot, Forbes, 4 Mar. 2021 The man was found not to have been involved in the assault on a female, but was cited for obstructing official business and jaywalking. cleveland, 9 Feb. 2020 Responding to an increase in pedestrian deaths, the state Department of Transportation and police in several communities have launched a crackdown on jaywalking and other violations that endanger bicyclists and walkers. Jesse Leavenworth, courant.com, 7 Dec. 2019 The system also did not include a provision for detecting jaywalking pedestrians, the agency said. Washington Post, 20 Nov. 2019 See More
Doug Smithsenior Writer, Los Angeles Times, 1 May 2022 Four signs in the median warned people not to jaywalk there, directing them to a crosswalk 380 feet away. Lauren Smiley, Wired, 8 Mar. 2022 He also was ordered not to block traffic, not jaywalk but use a crosswalk, and if driving, stick to lanes of traffic. oregonlive, 23 Sep. 2021 If walkers sometimes jaywalk to reach their destination, that’s a design flaw rather than a human flaw. Laura Blasey, Los Angeles Times, 23 Sep. 2021 From this data, analyses can reveal where the public is most tempted to jaywalk or where human drivers tend to be least attentive to the rights of pedestrians. Lance Eliot, Forbes, 4 Mar. 2021 The man was found not to have been involved in the assault on a female, but was cited for obstructing official business and jaywalking. cleveland, 9 Feb. 2020 Responding to an increase in pedestrian deaths, the state Department of Transportation and police in several communities have launched a crackdown on jaywalking and other violations that endanger bicyclists and walkers. Jesse Leavenworth, courant.com, 7 Dec. 2019 The system also did not include a provision for detecting jaywalking pedestrians, the agency said. Washington Post, 20 Nov. 2019 See More Word History
First Known Use
1915, in the meaning defined above
Kids Definition
jaywalk
verb
jay·walk ˈjā-ˌwȯk
jaywalked; jaywalking
: to cross a street in a place or in a way that is against traffic regulations
Legal Definition
jaywalk
intransitive verb
jay·walk ˈjā-ˌwȯk
: to cross a street carelessly or in an illegal manner so as to be endangered by traffic