swank
1 Americannoun
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dashing smartness, as in dress or appearance; style.
-
a swagger.
adjective
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stylish or elegant.
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pretentiously stylish.
verb (used without object)
verb
verb
noun
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Also called: swankpot. a swaggering or conceited person
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elegance or style, esp of a showy kind
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swagger; ostentation
adjective
Etymology
Origin of swank
1800–10; compare Scots swank lively, perhaps ultimately representing back formation from Old English swancor lithe; akin to Middle Dutch swanc supple, Middle High German swanken to sway
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Jordan is one of several stars, including Hilary Swank and Julia Roberts, to wrap-up Oscars night with a fast food burger over the years.
From BBC • Mar. 17, 2026
Freeman played former boxer Eddie “Scrap-Iron” Dupris in Eastwood’s “Million Dollar Baby,” a film for which star Hilary Swank would earn the lead actress trophy later in the evening.
From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 26, 2025
And if that’s the case, who the heck is Hilary Swank playing, anyway?
From Salon • Feb. 10, 2025
It was hoping for interest from the likes of stars with the same initials including former One Direction star Harry Styles, Hollywood star Hilary Swank or TV presenter Helen Skelton.
From BBC • Jan. 5, 2025
“How come you aren’t listening to me? My dad is here with half-men. Swank dressed, all of them. And he was talking about a ship.”
From "Ship Breaker" by Paolo Bacigalupi
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
