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:
"He absolutely didn't deserve that. Some of those fans should take a long, hard look at themselves for the way they mocked him. I hope Villa go there and spank them, just because of that."
From BBC ● Dec. 29, 2025
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
La Russa pledged “there will be a consequence he has to endure here within our family” and joked he wouldn’t spank him because he’s “too big and strong.”
From Slate ● May 19, 2021
We might therefore assume that parents who spank are unenlightened in other ways.
From "Freakonomics: A Rogue Economist Explores the Hidden Side of Everything" by Steven D. Levitt
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
He pounces on a forehand from Goffin and spanks a volley away - leave it to me, he says - and then he dinks a backhand volley away!
From The Guardian ● Nov. 28, 2015
It is said that the grizzly bear, who is a very strict mother, often spanks her cubs when she herself has done something foolish.
From The Book of Business Etiquette by Nella Henney
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.
