Did you know?
The noun ilk comes from the Old English pronoun ilca by way of a pronoun ilk that is still in use, but not in most modern English dialects. That ilk is synonymous with same, and persists chiefly in Scotland where it's used in the phrase "of that ilk," meaning "of the same place, territorial designation, or name." It is generally used in reference to the names of land-owning families and their eponymous estates, as in "the Grants of that ilk," which means "the Grants of Grant." In the late 1700s, the Scots phrase extended to mean "of that kind or sort," a usage that found its way into modern English.
Examples of ilk in a Sentence
Sadie Sartini Garner, Pitchfork, 31 Mar. 2026
The Altair 8800, which sold out immediately, and other kit computers of its ilk, such as the IMSAI 8080, were more hobbyist dreams realized than useful tools for regular people.
—Jamie Lendino, PC Magazine, 30 Mar. 2026
No-nonsense military builders like Errard and his ilk would no doubt have appreciated the pithiness of the phrase.
—Big Think, 27 Mar. 2026
Anti-porn crusaders of all ilks also hijacked the news of Radvinsky’s passing for their various pro-censorship agendas.
—Gustavo Turner, HollywoodReporter, 26 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for ilk
Cite this Entry
“Ilk.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ilk. Accessed 4 Apr. 2026.
Copy Citation
