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jambox

American slang for a boombox — a large, portable radio and cassette or CD player that could be carried on the shoulder, popular from the late 1970s through the 1990s.

ˈd͡ʒæmˌbɑks144 viewsLast reviewed Jun 29, 2026+ Add a definition
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#1·Apr 28, 2026

American slang for a boombox — a large, portable radio and cassette or CD player that could be carried on the shoulder, popular from the late 1970s through the 1990s. The 'jam' element refers to music ('jams'), and the 'box' to the device itself. Part of the vocabulary of hip-hop and street culture in urban America. Today the word sometimes extends to portable Bluetooth speakers.

He rolled into the park with a jambox on his shoulder blasting old-school R&B.
Origin: From 'jam' (music, a groove or track) + 'box' (the device). American slang following the same construction as 'ghetto blaster' or 'boom box.' Editorial expansion authored on Slangora.
For parents

"jambox" means: American slang for a boombox — a large, portable radio and cassette or CD player that could be carried on the shoulder, popular from the lat.... This is informal slang, common in casual speech, texting and social media, but not appropriate for school work, applications or professional settings. There is no real cause for concern in itself; it is everyday peer vocabulary. If your child uses it, a light comment about audience and register is usually enough — no need to escalate. Context, more than the word, tells you whether to follow up.

For ESL learners

"jambox" means: American slang for a boombox — a large, portable radio and cassette or CD player that could be carried on the shoulder, popular from the lat.... Register: informal slang, fine in casual conversation, texting and social media but not in academic essays, business writing or formal speech. Note the regional or dialect label (American) — usage may sound odd outside that variety. A common non-native mistake is to use the word in the wrong register, or to assume one fixed meaning when it is actually polysemous; always check the surrounding register and the audience before producing it yourself. In formal writing, prefer a neutral synonym or a short descriptive phrase, and use this

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#2·Apr 27, 2026

(slang) boom box.

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For specific readers

"jambox" means: American slang for a boombox — a large, portable radio and cassette or CD player that could be carried on the shoulder, popular from the lat.... This is informal slang, common in casual speech, texting and social media, but not appropriate for school work, applications or professional settings. There is no real cause for concern in itself; it is everyday peer vocabulary. If your child uses it, a light comment about audience and register is usually enough — no need to escalate. Context, more than the word, tells you whether to follow up.

Why is this section here?

Slang is read by different audiences for very different reasons. The For parents view re-explains the term in plain, non-judgemental language so a caregiver can understand what their child means without needing the surrounding subculture. The For English learners view focuses on register (when it's safe to use), formal alternatives, and common mistakes — what a textbook won't teach you.

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Regional slang from around the English-speaking world — British, Australian, Irish, Caribbean, Nigerian, Filipino, AAVE, and the hyphenated-English dialects that make the internet sound local.

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