funk

1 of 4

noun (1)

ˈfəŋk 

: a strong offensive smell

funk

2 of 4

verb

funked; funking; funks

intransitive verb

: to become frightened and shrink back

transitive verb

1

: to be afraid of : dread

2

: to shrink from undertaking or facing

funk

3 of 4

noun (2)

1

a

: a state of paralyzing fear

b

: a depressed state of mind

2

: one that funks : coward

3

: slump sense 1

an economic funk

the team went into a funk

funk

4 of 4

noun (3)

1

: music that combines elements of rhythm and blues and soul music and that is characterized by a percussive vocal style, static harmonies, and a strong bass line with heavy downbeats

2

: the quality or state of being funky

jeans … have lost much of their funk

—Tom Wolfe

Synonyms

Noun (1)

• reek
• stench
• stink

Noun (2)

• chicken
• coward
• craven
• cur
• dastard
• poltroon
• recreant
• sissy

Examples of funk in a Sentence

Noun (1)

the overpowering funk of rotten meat emanated from the garbage bin

Noun (2)

he may be a strong, athletic guy, but he's a real funk when it comes to donating blood

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

But Minchin and Alcock are an electric duo, their bristling anti-chemistry transmuting their characters’ respective funks from mostly unwatchable to genuinely compelling. —Alexis Gunderson, Vulture, 8 Oct. 2024

His music runs across genres, from blues to funk to hip-hop, and his fondness for his home base of Oakland, California, is infectious. —Scott Hocker, theweek, 9 May 2024

Noun

The low, squelching funk of the beat and Richman’s high falsetto were tuned to such a uniquely perfect frequency that everyone was happy to hear them, again and again, and again. —Carrie Battan, The New Yorker, 15 Dec. 2024

Thee Sacred Souls, the soul/R&B/funk trio from San Diego. —Christopher Arnott, Hartford Courant, 12 Dec. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

probably ultimately from French dialect (Picard) funquer to give off smoke

Noun (2)

perhaps from obsolete Dutch dialect (Flanders) fonck

Noun (3)

back-formation from funky entry 1

First Known Use

Noun (1)

1606, in the meaning defined above

Verb

circa 1746, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense

Noun (2)

1743, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Noun (3)

1970, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing funk

• funk hole

Kids Definition

funk

1 of 4 noun

ˈfəŋk 

: a strong bad smell

funk

2 of 4 verb

1

: to be or become frightened of

2

: to shrink back from in fear

funk

3 of 4 noun

1

a

: great fear

b

: a depressed state of mind

2

: coward

3

: slump entry 2

the team went into a funk

funk

4 of 4 noun

: music that combines forms of blues, gospel, or soul music and has a strong backbeat

Biographical Definition

Funk 1 of 2

biographical name (1)

ˈfu̇ŋk  ˈfəŋk 

Casimir 1884–1967 American (Polish-born) biochemist

Funk

2 of 2

biographical name (2)

ˈfəŋk 

Isaac Kauffman 1839–1912 American editor and publisher