spank
1 Americanverb (used with object)
noun
-
spanks
plural
verb (used without object)
verb
noun
verb
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
Etymology
Origin of spank1
First recorded in 1720–30; imitative
Origin of spank2
First recorded in 1800–10; back formation from spanking
Explanation
To spank is to hit someone with an open palm, especially as punishment. You should never spank your dog, even when she chews your favorite shoes; a firm "No!" is a strong enough correction. To spank is to slap, most often on the rear end. In some places, it's perfectly acceptable for a parent to spank their child for misbehaving, but spanking is increasingly seen as potentially harmful—and in some countries, it's even illegal. Spank is an imitative word, which means it was coined as an imitation of the sound of a spank on skin.
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.
See Examples For:
There’s plenty of time for the market to spank Musk even more than it has the past few months.
From Slate ● May 1, 2025
Liverpool are not just in the top half, they are a top team and they are in top spot - and they are going to spank them.
From BBC ● Dec. 14, 2023
He also chides West for leaving his orthodontic retainers out on the countertop, a light spank from elder to child.
From New York Times ● Feb. 17, 2022
Putin responded that “it’s better not to spank children and not to cite traditions,” but agreed that “unceremonious interference with the family is unacceptable,” and promised to review the law.
From Seattle Times ● Sep. 14, 2021
“It doesn’t matter what I believe. The hospital’s gotta spank somebody, and I was an easy target. It’s just the way things work.”
From "Challenger Deep" by Neal Shusterman
Perhaps it’s because it’s by and about women that it spanks the whole bunch of “prestigious” puzzle TV shows, by never letting the puzzle swamp its characters or their psychologies.
From Slate ● Jan. 31, 2019
For another thing, the movie effectively spanks snobs who claim that people aren’t into books anymore.
From Washington Post ● May 21, 2018
Barney Ronay Vardy spanks it past Mignolet on the run.
From The Guardian ● May 15, 2016
McCullum drives another mighty six over long-off, and then spanks an attempted yorker over extra cover for four more.
From The Guardian ● Mar. 5, 2013
"Just as nice," gurgled Brother, standing still to receive the six "spanks" without which no birthday could be properly celebrated.
From Brother and Sister by Josephine Lawrence
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Get a wordDefinitions 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.
