spunk
Americannoun
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pluck; spirit; mettle.
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touchwood, tinder, or punk.
noun
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informal courage or spirit
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a slang word for semen
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touchwood or tinder, esp originally made from various spongy types of fungus
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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
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Etymology
Origin of spunk
1530–40; blend of spark 1 and obsolete funk spark, touchwood (cognate with Dutch vonk, German Funke )
Explanation
People with spunk are courageous or determined. If you've got spunk, you'll cheerfully finish a difficult hike even after falling and skinning your knees. If someone has spunk, they have what it takes to continue doing stand-up comedy even when audiences are rude or disinterested. Spunk is what keeps you upbeat and resolute, inspiring you to persevere. Spunk is an informal noun that means "spark" in Scottish, from the Latin word for "sponge," spongia.
Vocabulary lists containing spunk
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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:
Unlike the new kid who’s got spunk and talent, Sonny has the competence to back up his flair.
From Salon ● Jun. 30, 2025
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 ● Apr. 16, 2025
Lorelai’s spunk is presented as a secret to her success: Having been a teen mom, she drips with “up by your bootstraps” energy.
From Slate ● Apr. 14, 2025
She did a good job of bringing Winehouse’s spunk, vulnerability and big-as-her-hair personality to the screen; a scene of her getting emotional in the studio while recording the song “Back to Black” was particularly moving.
From Seattle Times ● May 16, 2024
You want one with spunk but at the same time ain’t too stubborn.
From "Life Is So Good" by George Dawson
Then some person invented strips of wood dipped in sulphur and called "spunks."
From Home Life in Colonial Days by Earle, Alice Morse
She spunks up and her eyes sparkles whenever she thinks about that there tobaccer trust.
From Danny's Own Story by Marquis, Don
The Advocate, who is not without some spunks of a remainder decency, has wrung your life-safe out of Simon and the Duke.
From The Works of Robert Louis Stevenson - Swanston Edition Vol. 11 (of 25) by Stevenson, Robert Louis
An' the haill apotheck lay in spails, As the grey mear warsled free; An' when auld Jock Smairt saw the fashion o' his cairt: "Wha's seekin' ony spunks?" says he.
From The Auld Doctor and other Poems and Songs in Scots by Rorie, David
He looked hard at me wi' a pair o' een that glowed like twa spunks, and then he says, says he: "You've been born in these pairts, I understan'?"
From The Mystery of Cloomber by Doyle, Arthur Conan, Sir
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.
