hunky-dory
Americanadjective
adjective
Etymology
Origin of hunky-dory
1865–70; hunky 1 + dory < ?
Explanation
When things are hunky-dory, they're just fine. Once you've started your new job and rented a lovely apartment, you might feel that life in a new city is hunky-dory. The informal hunky-dory is perfect for those times when everything is great, going according to plan, or not bad at all. This American-coined adjective has been around since the 1860s, from the now-obsolete hunkey, "all right," which stems from the New York slang hunk, "in a safe position," and the Dutch root honk or "home." The origin of dory is unknown.
Vocabulary lists containing hunky-dory
A Good Kind of Trouble
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"How to Train a Guide Dog" and "The Wonder Dog"
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The Darkest Minds
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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.
Brown is the main reason it was clear that not everything was hunky-dory for the Eagles, even before the team lost its first game of the season.
From The Wall Street Journal • Oct. 6, 2025
“For you to come in here and say ‘No, everything was hunky-dory, they did their job,’ I can’t accept that,” Councilmember Hector Luevano said to applause.
From Salon • Mar. 8, 2024
Although most members speaking on the record said that everything was hunky-dory, they admitted privately that they were worried how the race might develop — and what strains it could put on the delegation.
From Los Angeles Times • Aug. 7, 2023
"Not everything is going to be going hunky-dory for you. Finding a way to win is something we've got better at."
From BBC • Jan. 30, 2023
Everything was, as Grover said, hunky-dory, until Ralph had his idea.
From "Typical American" by Gish Jen
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.
