plural punks
1
: a usually petty gangster, hoodlum, or ruffian
2
3
4
[probably partly from punk entry 3]
: nonsense, foolishness
5
archaic
: a woman who engages in sex acts and especially sexual intercourse in exchange for pay : a woman who is a sex worker
1
a
: of or relating to punk rock
b
: relating to or being a style (as of dress or hair) inspired by punk rock
2
: very poor : inferior
played a punk game
3
: being in poor health
said that she was feeling punk
1
: wood so decayed as to be dry, crumbly, and useful for tinder
2
: a preparation (as of a stick of coated wood) that burns slowly and is used to ignite fuses especially of fireworks
Synonyms
Examples of punk in a Sentence
Noun (1)
an impertinent punk who was trying to tell senior colleagues how to do their jobs
the vigilante was hailed by some as a hero for standing up to the punks who had repeatedly threatened his family
claims made by cosmetic companies about their antiaging creams that turned out to be a lot of punk
Adjective
she plays a punk game of tennis, so you won't have any trouble beating her
the acting in the movie ranged all the way from poor to punk
Recent Examples on the Web
India Espy-Jones, Essence, 10 Dec. 2024
The Ramones helped bring punk music to the masses beginning in the mid-70s.
—Hugh McIntyre, Forbes, 30 Sep. 2024
Thomas Curwen, Los Angeles Times, 7 Dec. 2024
The punk band’s photos and album covers are scattered on the walls in addition to the signatures of performers.
—Hannah Benson, Los Angeles Times, 27 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for punk 
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Adjective
The five smudge shades are named after punk music culture.
—India Espy-Jones, Essence, 10 Dec. 2024
The Ramones helped bring punk music to the masses beginning in the mid-70s.
—Hugh McIntyre, Forbes, 30 Sep. 2024
Noun
More to Read This OC surf punk was a terror on the waves and on the stage.
—Thomas Curwen, Los Angeles Times, 7 Dec. 2024
The punk band’s photos and album covers are scattered on the walls in addition to the signatures of performers.
—Hannah Benson, Los Angeles Times, 27 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for punk
Dictionary Entries Near punk
Cite this Entry
“Punk.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/punk. Accessed 26 Dec. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
punk
2 of 2 adjective1
: very poor in quality
played a punk game
2
: being in poor health
feeling punk today
3
a
: of or relating to punk rock
b
: relating to or being a style (as of clothing or hair) first inspired by punk rock
Etymology
Noun
origin unknown
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share