ilk

¹ American  

[ilk] / ɪlk /

noun

1. family, class, or kind.

   he and all his ilk.

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adjective

1. same.

idioms

1. of that ilk,

   1. (in Scotland) of the same family name or place.

      Ross of that ilk, i.e., Ross of Ross.

   2. of the same class or kind.

ilk ² American  

[ilk] / ɪlk /

pronoun

1. each.

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adjective

1. each; every.

ilk ¹ British  

/ ɪlk /

noun

1. a type; class; sort (esp in the phrase of that, his, her, etc, ilk )

   people of that ilk should not be allowed here

2. of the place of the same name: used to indicate that the person named is proprietor or laird of the place named

   Moncrieff of that ilk

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ilk ² British  

/ ɪlk, ˈɪlkə /

determiner

1. each; every

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Usage

Although the use of ilk in the sense of sense 1 is sometimes condemned as being the result of a misunderstanding of the original Scottish expression of that ilk , it is nevertheless well established and generally acceptable

Etymology

Origin of ilk¹

before 900; Middle English ilke, Old English ilca (pronoun) the same, equivalent to demonstrative i (cognate with Gothic is he, Latin is that) + a reduced form of līc like ¹; cf. which, such

Origin of ilk²

before 900; Middle English ilk, north variant of ilch, Old English ylc (pronoun) each

Explanation

Ilk is a certain type of person, usually a type you don't care for. The word is used in sentences like "I'm tired of you and your ilk! When you say "you and your ilk," you mean "you and everyone just like you." And that's not usually meant in a nice way. You probably wouldn't talk about Nelson Mandela and his ilk — ilk sounds negative. Usually, you're talking about a criminal and his ilk, or a crooked politician and his ilk. If someone is talking about your ilk, it might be time to get new friends or change your ways.

Example Sentences

Toward that end, Ilk, 47 has recruited artists from various backgrounds to contribute to this year’s edition of what is arguably one of the art world’s most important events.

From New York Times • Apr. 18, 2024

Ilk brings an unconventional approach to curating the high-profile event.

From New York Times • Apr. 18, 2024

“I wanted to do something un-disciplinary,” said Ilk, who was born in Istanbul and has lived in Germany for the past 20 years.

From New York Times • Apr. 18, 2024

For Cagla Ilk, curator of the German Pavilion at this year’s Venice Biennale, that bold artistic act was a sort of exorcism.

From New York Times • Apr. 18, 2024

Ilk smack still, did crack still, Just like a cadger’s whip, Then staggering and swaggering He roar’d this ditty up— AIR.

From The Complete Works of Robert Burns: Containing his Poems, Songs, and Correspondence. With a New Life of the Poet, and Notices, Critical and Biographical by Allan Cunningham by Burns, Robert