Pronunciation: [d͡ʒˈe͡ɪwɔːkt] (IPA) 
Jaywalked is the past tense of jaywalk, which means to cross a street improperly or illegally. The word is spelled as j-ay-wa-lked, with the main stress on the second syllable. It is pronounced as /ˈdʒeɪˌwɔkt/, with the "j" sound represented by the IPA symbol /dʒ/ and the "ay" sound represented by the symbol /eɪ/. The final "ed" is pronounced as /t/, as is typical for regular past tense verbs in English.
Jaywalked is a term that refers to the act of walking across a street or road in an illegal or unsafe manner, particularly outside of designated pedestrian crossings. It is typically used to describe a pedestrian who crosses a road without adhering to traffic rules, often doing so in a reckless or hazardous manner. The term "jaywalked" is predominantly used in North America, but the concept is recognized globally with varying terms.
When someone jaywalks, they disregard traffic signals, such as traffic lights or pedestrian crossing signs, and instead choose to cross the road at their convenience, even when it poses a risk to their safety or disrupts the flow of traffic. Jaywalking can involve crossing the street against a red traffic signal, crossing mid-block where no crosswalk is present, or crossing a busy roadway without waiting for an appropriate gap in traffic.
Jaywalking is considered an infraction or a misdemeanor in many jurisdictions, and individuals found guilty of this offense may be subject to fines or other penalties. The term itself originates from the early 20th century when the word "jay" was used to describe someone who was inexperienced or foolish. Hence, jaywalking implies crossing the road like an unaware or ignorant person, not following the designated rules meant to ensure the safety of both pedestrians and drivers.
The term "jaywalked" originated in the United States in the early 1900s. It is derived from the word "jay", which initially referred to a naive or foolish person. Jaywalking originally described the behavior of pedestrians who crossed streets without following proper traffic rules. The word "jay" was used to emphasize the perceived foolishness of pedestrians who ignored designated crossing areas or traffic signals. Over time, "jaywalking" became a widely used term to describe crossing the street illegally or in a reckless manner.
