Skip to the word

Added 10 October 2026

jugular

/ˈd͡ʒʌɡ.jʊl.ə/ noun

Latin root: jugulāris Wiktionary

noun Definition from WordNet 3.1, Princeton University. Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about jugular at Wordnik → Where our words come from →

Veins in the neck that return blood from the head.
A vital part that is vulnerable to attack.
he always goes for the jugular

adjective

Relating to or located in the region of the neck or throat.
jugular vein

Origin

Late 16th century borrowing from Late Latin jugulāris, from jugulum (“the collarbone; the hollow part of the neck above the collarbone; the throat”) + -āris (“-ar, -ary”, adjectival suffix); equivalent to jugulum + -ar.

From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)

Back to today's word