spunk

[ spuhngk ]

/ spʌŋk /

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See synonyms for spunk on Thesaurus.com

noun

pluck; spirit; mettle.

touchwood, tinder, or punk.

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Which sentence is correct?

His boss, whom he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

His boss, who he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

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Origin of spunk

1530–40; blend of spark¹ and obsolete funk spark, touchwood (cognate with Dutch vonk,German Funke)

OTHER WORDS FROM spunk

spunkless, adjective

Words nearby spunk

spumone, spun, spunbonded, spun-bonding, spun glass, spunk, spunkie, spunky, spun rayon, spun silk, spun sugar

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use spunk in a sentence

She got up in their faces with a fashionable statement which most of them detest, but she got rave reviews and ovations from people who appreciate her spunk.
The Democrat, the Designer, and the Dress: The Other Messenger|Truthbetold|October 30, 2021|TruthBeTold.news
She’s half Greta Thunberg’s age but has all of the teen climate change leader’s spunk.
25 Rising Stars to Track in 2021|Daniel Malloy|December 20, 2020|Ozy
Granted, previously winless Penn State showed some spunk in a 27-17 victory in Ann Arbor.
College football winners and losers: Pac-12 playoff hopes disappear with Oregon’s loss|Patrick Stevens|November 29, 2020|Washington Post
ASELTON: Spunk, man-cave, toilet-kitchen… What were some of your favorite things on the show to come out of improvising?
‘The League’ Roundtable: The Cast Dishes on the Funniest Show You’re Not Watching|Marlow Stern|November 19, 2013|DAILY BEAST

The Spunk pretended to be shying—put on the rags as if he was going to try legs with the Devastation.
The Adventures of My Cousin Smooth|Timothy Templeton
Split meets the schooner Spunk, Skipper Pluck, afore he begun to get to the line, outside of which he could fish according to law.
The Adventures of My Cousin Smooth|Timothy Templeton
"I think I should have liked to know Spunk," smiled Marie from the other side of the sewing table.
Miss Billy's Decision|Eleanor H. Porter
"Of course Billy's got Spunk, but—" he hesitated, and smiled a little.
Miss Billy|Eleanor H. Porter
I hope you don't, for I couldn't live without Spunk, and he couldn't live with out me.
Miss Billy|Eleanor H. Porter

British Dictionary definitions for spunk

spunk

/ (spʌŋk) /

noun

informal courage or spirit

British a slang word for semen

touchwood or tinder, esp originally made from various spongy types of fungus

Australian and NZ informal a person, esp male, who is sexually attractive

Derived forms of spunk

spunky, adjectivespunkily, adverb

Word Origin for spunk

C16 (in the sense: a spark): from Scottish Gaelic spong tinder, sponge, from Latin spongia sponge

usage for spunk

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

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

spunk

Origin of spunk

OTHER WORDS FROM spunk

Words nearby spunk

Words related to spunk

How to use spunk in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for spunk

Derived forms of spunk

Word Origin for spunk

usage for spunk