funky

¹ American  

[fuhng-kee] / ˈfʌŋ ki /

adjective

funkier, funkiest

1. overcome with great fear; terrified.

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funky ² American  

[fuhng-kee] / ˈfʌŋ ki /

adjective

funkier, funkiest

1. Jazz. having an earthy, blues-based quality or character.

2. having an offensive smell; evil-smelling; foul.

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funky ¹ British  

/ ˈfʌŋkɪ /

adjective

1. (of music) passionate, soulful; of or pertaining to funk

2. authentic; earthy

3. stylish and exciting; cool

   funky jeans

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funky ² British  

/ ˈfʌŋkɪ /

adjective

1. slang evil-smelling; foul

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Other Word Forms

• funkily adverb
• funkiness noun

Etymology

Origin of funky¹

First recorded in 1830–40; funk ¹ + -y ¹

Origin of funky²

An Americanism dating back to 1905–10; funk ² + -y ¹

Example Sentences

Edgar Wright’s “The Running Man” used the song’s looping, funky backing track underneath a bit of conspiracy-minded explainer video, adding an escalating urgency to the conclusion of the movie’s action-packed satire of corporate media culture.

From Los Angeles Times

Bring up a funky instrument or some weird software and just do your thing.

From Los Angeles Times

Kimchi - sharp, funky, fermented cabbage - has become a kind of shorthand for Korean food in the UK.

From BBC

It’s technically a gaming console, but it could pass for a funky accent piece.

From The Wall Street Journal

While the exterior features a very traditional red brick façade, the interior follows a much funkier black-and-white theme that carries throughout the majority of the main living spaces.

From MarketWatch

Related Words

• earthy
• fashionable
• hip