spunk
Americannoun
-
pluck; spirit; mettle.
-
touchwood, tinder, or punk.
noun
-
informal courage or spirit
-
a slang word for semen
-
touchwood or tinder, esp originally made from various spongy types of fungus
-
informal a person, esp male, who is sexually attractive
Usage
The second sense of this word was formerly considered to be taboo, and it was labelled as such in previous editions of Collins English Dictionary . However, it has now become acceptable in speech, although some older or more conservative people may object to its use
Other Word Forms
- spunkily adverb
- spunkless adjective
- spunky adjective
Etymology
Origin of spunk
1530–40; blend of spark 1 and obsolete funk spark, touchwood (cognate with Dutch vonk, German Funke )
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.
Showing plenty of spunk while scoring the game’s first 13 points, the new lineup vaulted the No. 19 Bruins to a 79-48 victory at Pauley Pavilion.
From Los Angeles Times
Fulton said she began to receive “love letters” from fans who admired the character’s spunk.
From Los Angeles Times
Unlike the new kid who’s got spunk and talent, Sonny has the competence to back up his flair.
From Salon
Those recordings hold up for their crystalline sound and youthful spunk.
From Los Angeles Times
Owing to her Western spunk, talent for deduction, ability to identify a tobacco scent Holmes cannot and the detective’s need for a sidekick, she’s made his assistant.
From Los Angeles Times
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.
