punk

¹ American  

[puhngk] / pʌŋk /

noun

1. Slang.

   1. something or someone worthless or unimportant.

   2. a young ruffian; hoodlum.

   3. an inexperienced youth.

   4. a young male partner of a gay man.

   5. an apprentice, especially in the building trades.

   6. Prison Slang. a passive or submissive male inmate, especially one who is used for sex by another male inmate.

2. punk rock.

3. a style or movement characterized by the adoption of aggressively unconventional and often bizarre or shocking clothing, hairstyles, makeup, etc., and the defiance of social norms of behavior, usually associated with punk rock musicians and fans.

4. a punker.

5. Archaic. a prostitute.

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adjective

1. Informal. poor in quality or condition.

2. of, relating to, or characteristic of punk rock.

   a punk band.

3. pertaining to, characteristic of, or adopting punk styles.

   punk youths; punk hairstyles in various colors.

punk ² American  

[puhngk] / pʌŋk /

noun

1. any prepared substance, usually in stick form, that will smolder and can be used to light fireworks, fuses, etc.

2. dry, decayed wood that can be used as tinder.

3. conk.

4. a spongy substance derived from fungi; amadou; touchwood.

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-punk ³ American  

1. a combining form extracted from cyberpunk used to denote a rebellious, alternative genre or aesthetic in speculative fiction, art, fashion, etc., and added to a word that names its distinctive theme, often a form of technology.

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punk ¹ British  

/ pʌŋk /

noun

1. 1. a youth movement of the late 1970s, characterized by anti-Establishment slogans and outrageous clothes and hairstyles

   2. an adherent of punk

   3. short for punk rock

   4. ( as modifier )

      a punk record

2. an inferior, rotten, or worthless person or thing

3. worthless articles collectively

4. a petty criminal or hoodlum

5. obsolete a young male homosexual; catamite

6. obsolete a prostitute

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adjective

1. inferior, rotten, or worthless

punk ² British  

/ pʌŋk /

noun

1. dried decayed wood that smoulders when ignited: used as tinder

2. any of various other substances that smoulder when ignited, esp one used to light fireworks

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punk Cultural  

1. A type of rock 'n' roll with loud, energetic music and often harsh lyrics criticizing traditional society and culture. It was named after the punks, an anarchistic youth movement that surfaced in Great Britain in the 1970s.

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Other Word Forms

• punkish adjective

Etymology

Origin of punk¹

First recorded in 1590–1600; of obscure origin; the sense development is apparently “prostitute,” from “catamite,” from “hoodlum”; the adjective “poor in quality” (1896) is unclearly derived and perhaps a distinct word

Origin of punk²

An Americanism dating back to 1680–90; origin uncertain

Example Sentences

A 12-year-old girl with a love of punk rock becomes entangled in the case of a local killing.

From The Wall Street Journal

While their music is at times reminiscent of the free jazz of Sun Ra and Ornette Coleman, it also brings in elements of electronic music, punk rock and hip-hop.

From Los Angeles Times

There was a youthful, rock ‘n’ roll vibe to the proceedings that was punk in quality but earnest in its quest to be seen.

From Los Angeles Times

Many of them were Indigenous—long.and short-haired, light-and dark-complected, dressed like punks and clean girls and mob wives and everything else that had ever become an aesthetic.

From Literature

Hogg's clothes embraced futuristic beauty looks, bold hair, punk sensibilities, and a strong sense of androgyny.

From BBC

Related Words

• bully
• thug