wonk

[ wongk ]

/ wɒŋk /

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noun Slang.

a student who spends much time studying and has little or no social life; grind.

a stupid, boring, or unattractive person.

a person who studies a subject or issue in an excessively assiduous and thorough manner: They’re searching for a policy wonk to lead the economic institute’s think tank.

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CAN YOU ANSWER THESE COMMON GRAMMAR DEBATES?

There are grammar debates that never die; and the ones highlighted in the questions in this quiz are sure to rile everyone up once again. Do you know how to answer the questions that cause some of the greatest grammar debates?

Question 1 of 7

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 wonk

An Americanism first recorded in 1960–65; of expressive origin; nautical slang wonk “a midshipman,” and Australian slang “white person; gay man” are probably independent formations

OTHER WORDS FROM wonk

wonk·ish, adjective

Words nearby wonk

wonder-worker, wondrous, wonga, wonga-wonga, Wŏnju, wonk, wonkish, wonky, wonna, Wŏnsan, wont

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

How to use wonk in a sentence

Former San Diego Mayor Kevin Faulconer is coming off some good weeks of press coverage in which reporters trumpeted his plan for homelessness uncritically and presented him as a low-key policy wonk.
Sacramento Report: Fee Caps Like San Diego’s Are Doordash’s New Target|Sara Libby|July 23, 2021|Voice of San Diego
A few tax wonks predicted that workers who were most likely to struggle financially in old age wouldn’t open the accounts because they couldn’t afford to save.
Lord of the Roths: How Tech Mogul Peter Thiel Turned a Retirement Account for the Middle Class Into a $5 Billion Tax-Free Piggy Bank|by Justin Elliott, Patricia Callahan and James Bandler|June 24, 2021|ProPublica
Think tanks and nonprofits have published research, and policy wonks have discussed it at conferences.
The Climate Real Estate Bubble: Is the U.S. on the Verge of Another Financial Crisis?|Graphics by Emily Barone|April 19, 2021|Time
Known as a “health care wonk,” Becerra was an original co-sponsor of the Affordable Care Act.
Xavier Becerra is the victim of the right’s distortion of Catholicism|Duncan Hosie|March 19, 2021|Washington Post

Policy wonks can talk about history and cite all the studies they want, but for some people, this is not remotely theoretical.
Congress Is Considering 2 Plans to Get More Money to Parents. Here's How Each Would Work|Belinda Luscombe|February 12, 2021|Time
But if the leader fails to gain acceptance, then the budget details are nothing more than wonk-trivia.
Even Republicans Don’t Like the Ryan Budget|Lloyd Green|April 8, 2014|DAILY BEAST
He hired a disaffected ex-Democratic wonk as his top social-policy guy.
Paul Ryan: Still a Total Jerk|Michael Tomasky|April 3, 2014|DAILY BEAST
He saw a problem, and—as a self-proclaimed “wonk”—immediately moved to solve it.
What Paul Ryan Gets Wrong About ‘Inner-City’ Poverty|Jamelle Bouie|March 12, 2014|DAILY BEAST
When did knowing how the federal government works, how the budget works, become impressive for a policy wonk?
More Republican Crumbs for the Middle Class|Michael Tomasky|January 31, 2014|DAILY BEAST
But before long, Morgan was ready to get off the wonk and back to the Oval Office.
Piers Morgan Pesters Clintons About 2016 Plans At CGI|Nina Strochlic|September 25, 2013|DAILY BEAST
The notes are moderately high-pitched and resemble "wonk-wonk-wonk."
Neotropical Hylid Frogs, Genus Smilisca|William E. Duellman
It was called the Wank (pronounced Wonk) and was an Armenian monastery, half farm, half stronghold.
A Prisoner in Turkey|John Still

British Dictionary definitions for wonk

wonk

/ (wɒŋk) /

noun

informal a person who is obsessively interested in a specified subjecta foreign policy wonk

Word Origin for wonk

C20: of uncertain origin

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

wonk

Origin of wonk

OTHER WORDS FROM wonk

Words nearby wonk

Words related to wonk

How to use wonk in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for wonk

Word Origin for wonk