spunk
Americannoun
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spunks
plural
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pluck; spirit; mettle.
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touchwood, tinder, or punk.
noun
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informal courage or spirit
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a slang word for semen
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touchwood or tinder, esp originally made from various spongy types of fungus
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informal a person, esp male, who is sexually attractive
Usage
The second sense of this word was formerly considered to be taboo, and it was labelled as such in previous editions of Collins English Dictionary . However, it has now become acceptable in speech, although some older or more conservative people may object to its use
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Etymology
Origin of spunk
1530–40; blend of spark 1 and obsolete funk spark, touchwood (cognate with Dutch vonk, German Funke )
Explanation
People with spunk are courageous or determined. If you've got spunk, you'll cheerfully finish a difficult hike even after falling and skinning your knees. If someone has spunk, they have what it takes to continue doing stand-up comedy even when audiences are rude or disinterested. Spunk is what keeps you upbeat and resolute, inspiring you to persevere. Spunk is an informal noun that means "spark" in Scottish, from the Latin word for "sponge," spongia.
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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.
See Examples For:
Lorelai’s spunk is presented as a secret to her success: Having been a teen mom, she drips with “up by your bootstraps” energy.
From Slate ● Apr. 14, 2025
“Coastal Funk” brings together work by Robert Arneson, one of funk’s godfathers, and contemporary artists keeping the spunk of funk alive.
From Seattle Times ● Apr. 24, 2024
She was a successful writer in New York City with an impossibly expensive wardrobe, a singular style, good friends and a lot of spunk.
From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 12, 2024
Indeed, Kansara plays Ria with spunk and a youthful vigor that makes it hard not to reminisce on one's own adolescent years.
From Salon ● Apr. 29, 2023
The man had character and spunk and Bloom had considered him an attractive original, had always known he was the real McCoy.
From "The Milagro Beanfield War" by John Nichols
Then some person invented strips of wood dipped in sulphur and called "spunks."
From Home Life in Colonial Days by Alice Morse Earle
The Advocate, who is not without some spunks of a remainder decency, has wrung your life-safe out of Simon and the Duke.
From The Works of Robert Louis Stevenson - Swanston Edition Vol. 11 (of 25) by Robert Louis Stevenson
She spunks up and her eyes sparkles whenever she thinks about that there tobaccer trust.
From Danny's Own Story by Don Marquis
But I ain't got to the wonders none as yet,' reemonstrates the Colonel, who spunks up a bit peevish for him.
From Wolfville Nights by Alfred Henry Lewis
An' the haill apotheck lay in spails, As the grey mear warsled free; An' when auld Jock Smairt saw the fashion o' his cairt: "Wha's seekin' ony spunks?" says he.
From The Auld Doctor and other Poems and Songs in Scots by David Rorie
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Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
