Jitney means: , especially one with a scheduled fixed route.. There is no real cause for parental concern; it is descriptive vocabulary rather than risky behaviour. If your teen uses it, context will usually make the intent clear. A short, curious question about where they heard it is usually all that is needed to know whether to follow up. For most families this word will pass by without incident; it is more a vocabulary curiosity than a parenting concern.
jitney
, especially one with a scheduled fixed route.
Etymology timeline
Born ~1886 · 1 year of recorded useSeen in the wild
Italian-language version of Wilson’s ‘Jitney’ stops in Pittsburgh https://www.newsbeep.com/us-pa/185191/ There is no Italian word for “jitney.” But the 1982 August Wilson play named for Pittsburgh’s brand of…
Italian-language version of Wilson’s ‘Jitney’ stops in Pittsburgh https://www.europesays.com/us/777062/ There is no Italian word for “jitney.” But the 1982 August Wilson play named for Pittsburgh’s brand of…#us #new…
Definitions
, especially one with a scheduled fixed route.
Jitney means: , especially one with a scheduled fixed route.. There is no real cause for parental concern; it is descriptive vocabulary rather than risky behaviour. If your teen uses it, context will usually make the intent clear. A short, curious question about where they heard it is usually all that is needed to know whether to follow up. For most families this word will pass by without incident; it is more a vocabulary curiosity than a parenting concern.
jitney means: , especially one with a scheduled fixed route.. Register: neutral, standard English. A common learner mistake is using the word in a register it does not fit, or assuming a single global meaning; native speakers immediately notice when slang appears in formal contexts, so always check the surrounding register before producing it yourself. A formal-English equivalent (a synonym or descriptive phrase) is usually safer in writing. When in doubt, paraphrase rather than reuse the slang form.
“Italian-language version of Wilson’s ‘Jitney’ stops in Pittsburgh https://www.newsbeep.com/us-pa/185191/ There is no Italian word for “jitney.” But the 1982 August Wilson play named for Pittsburgh’s brand of…”
— Bluesky· May 2026“Italian-language version of Wilson’s ‘Jitney’ stops in Pittsburgh https://www.europesays.com/us/777062/ There is no Italian word for “jitney.” But the 1982 August Wilson play named for Pittsburgh’s brand of…#us #news #usnews”
— Bluesky· May 2026
Comments
, an unlicensed taxi.
Comments
(US, archaic) , a 5-cent coin or amount.
Comments
For specific readers
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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Other words near "jitney" (J)
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Related terms
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Semantically related
- hackney carriage55%
(British, formal) , an officially licensed taxi, a motorized vehicle for public hire.
- taxi54%
A vehicle that may be hired for single journeys by members of the public, particularly one with an automated meter to calculate the fare.
- catch a ride53%
(US, colloquial) to take or receive transportation somewhere with another.