wonky
1 Americanadjective
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(of a person) shaky, groggy, or unsteady.
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not exactly straight or balanced; off-kilter.
a wonky chair with an uneven leg.
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not working properly; faulty; unreliable.
Something went wonky with my computer.
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That's just odd logic and wonky reasoning.
adjective
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stupid; boring; unattractive.
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relating to, appealing to, or characteristic of a wonk; concerned with minute details of a topic or issue.
a wonky bureaucrat.
adjective
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shaky or unsteady
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not in correct alignment; askew
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liable to break down or develop a fault
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of wonky1
First recorded in 1915–20; perhaps variant of dialectal wanky, equivalent to wank(le) ( Middle English wankel, Old English wancol; see wench) + -y 1
Origin of wonky2
First recorded in 1975–80; wonk ( def. ) + -y 1 ( def. )
Explanation
Things that are wonky are a little bit crooked or wobbly — a table that isn't balanced right, a nose that's a bit out of place. Something that’s wonky isn’t necessarily broken; it’s just slightly “off.” Wonky can also describe something that isn't working correctly, such as an old TV set that shows only one channel, or maybe even your brain after you’ve just pulled an all-nighter. Important: Don't confuse wonky with wonk. A wonk is an extremely studious person, and usually wonks are very far from being wonky (except perhaps in terms of their social skills).
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:
In normal times, in a normal Federal Communications Commission, Anna M. Gomez’s job might be described as wonky.
From Slate ● Jun. 2, 2026
Finally, I always linger by the discount produce section, where mesh bags of slightly bruised or cosmetically wonky fruits and vegetables wait in cheerful little piles.
From Salon ● May 22, 2026
Sorting through wonky government websites in a moment of crisis is not a pleasant undertaking, so it’s best to begin exploring options before the end approaches, if you can.
From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 25, 2026
The term “shadow docket” itself sounds like wonky legalese, but in practice it’s quite simple.
From Salon ● Apr. 22, 2026
One of the wheels is wonky and spins left and right instead of rolling straight.
From "Free Lunch" by Rex Ogle
On the wonkier side, bond prices have also been falling in tandem with stock prices more often than they used to.
From Seattle Times ● Oct. 23, 2023
Beyond the initial setup, things get a bit wonkier from the parent’s side.
From The Verge ● Oct. 16, 2020
Ms. Roem has tried to buy some patience with far wonkier details than Ms. McGinn has offered.
From New York Times ● Nov. 4, 2019
He leaves the scathing criticism and wonkier observation to Meyers.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 20, 2017
It will come when he makes decisions in wonkier areas, on tax codes and budget proposals, both key to how arts institutions and other nonprofit groups raise public and private money.
From Washington Post ● Nov. 23, 2016
The tavern, known as “Britain’s wonkiest pub” for its slanting walls and floors, was sold to a private developer in July 2023.
From New York Times ● Feb. 27, 2024
Once known as "Britain's wonkiest" inn, the pub in Himley, Staffordshire, was gutted in the fire on 5 August.
From BBC ● Oct. 4, 2023
Once known as "Britain's wonkiest" inn, the pub in Staffordshire was hit by the fire on 5 August, and demolished less than two days later.
From BBC ● Sep. 28, 2023
Many stories have emerged, sharing sometimes very personal connections with what was once dubbed the UK's "wonkiest" pub.
From BBC ● Aug. 12, 2023
The pub, once Britain's "wonkiest", was sold by Marston's last month.
From BBC ● Aug. 9, 2023
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.
