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• punk
  punk

  noun
• -punk
  -punk

  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.

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. 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 ² 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 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

Explanation

A punk is a young troublemaker. If your elderly neighbor thinks of you as a young punk, he either thinks all kids are bad — or you did something that really disturbed him. The Algonquin word for dust or ashes, ponk is the most likely root of punk, which originally described rotten wood used to start fires. That meaning is also found in the adjective form of punk, poor quality, or disposable. Facing long-term unemployment in 1970s London, kids invented punk rock and extreme styles of dress and hair to go along with it, because, in the words of a well-known punk song of the day, they felt they had no future.

Example Sentences

From June 6 to 28, visitors will be able to explore inside the new work, with electro artist Thomas Bangalter -- one half of legendary French dance act Daft Punk -- providing the soundtrack.

From Barron's • May 21, 2026

Appeared in the April 28, 2026, print edition as 'A Defining Punk Debut'.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 27, 2026

Operating on a mixture of audacity, talent, and sheer guts, Bertei became part of the No Wave scene that existed immediately adjacent to the Punk Rock Class of 1975.

From Salon • Apr. 14, 2026

On Sunday evening, a respectable crowd showed up in the Mojave Tent to pay their respects to the Godfather of Punk, who first played Coachella in a reunion with the Stooges in 2003.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 13, 2026

“You don’t mess with a princess from Punk, little man,” she said.

From "Half Upon a Time" by James Riley

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