hunky

¹ American  

[huhng-kee] / ˈhʌŋ ki /

adjective

Slang.

1. satisfactory; well; all right.

2. even; leaving no balance.

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hunky ² American  

[huhng-kee] / ˈhʌŋ ki /

adjective

hunkier, hunkiest

1. Slang. (of a male) handsome and having well-developed physique.

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hunky ³ American  

[huhng-kee] / ˈhʌŋ ki /

Or hunkie

noun

(sometimes initial capital letter)

hunkies plural

1. a contemptuous term used to refer to a person of Hungarian or Slavic descent, especially an unskilled or semiskilled worker.

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• hunkies
  plural

Etymology

Origin of hunky¹

An Americanism dating back to 1860–65; from obsolete New York City slang term hunk, used especially by boys at play for home base, home (the goal); from Dutch honk “post, station, base, home” + -y ¹ ( def. ); see also hunky-dory ( def. )

Origin of hunky²

First recorded in 1910–15; hunk + -y ¹

Origin of hunky³

First recorded in 1905–10; (bo)hunk ( def. ) + -y ² ( def. )

Example Sentences

My friend Claire opened up a place called Hunky Dory on Franklin Avenue, which I love to visit.

From New York Times • Sep. 6, 2019

A note on the inner sleeve of Hunky Dory reads: “Inspired by Frankie.”

From The Guardian • Apr. 12, 2019

Hunky Joel’s backstory makes his rift with Olivia all the more tragic, but he’d barely registered when seen through Petra’s eyes.

From Slate • Nov. 10, 2017

Posthumous sales of Hunky Dory were undoubtedly boosted by the song Kooks, which was one of the most widely-shared Bowie songs on social media in the days following his death.

From BBC • Jan. 9, 2017

When the soldiers were safely away Hunky Ben returned to the cave and brought Leather down.

From Charlie to the Rescue by Ballantyne, R. M. (Robert Michael)

Related Words

• attractive
• handsome
• well-built