JMJD5 is a Jumonji C domain-containing demethylase/hydroxylase shown to be essential in embryological development, osteoclastic maturation, circadian rhythm regulation and cancer metabolism. However, its role and underlying mechanisms in oncogenesis remain unclear. Here, we demonstrate that JMJD5 forms complex with the tumor suppressor p53 by interacting with p53 DNA-binding domain (DBD), and negatively regulates its activity. Downregulation of JMJD5 resulted in increased expression of multiple p53 downstream genes, such as the cell cycle inhibitor CDKN1A and DNA repair effector P53R2, only in p53-proficient lung cancer cells. Upon DNA damage, the JMJD5–p53 association decreased, and thereby, promoted p53 recruitment to the target genes and stimulated its transcriptional activity. Furthermore, JMJD5 facilitated the cell cycle progression in a p53-dependent manner under both normal and DNA damage conditions. Depletion of JMJD5 inhibited cell proliferation and enhanced adriamycin-induced cell growth suppression in the presence of p53. Collectively, our results reveal that JMJD5 is a novel binding partner of p53 and it functions as a positive modulator of cell cycle and cell proliferation mainly through the repression of p53 pathway. Our study extends the mechanistic understanding of JMJD5 function in cancer development and implicates JMJD5 as a potential therapeutic target for cancer.