hon·ky-tonk
ˈhäŋ-kē-ˌtäŋk 
ˈhȯŋ-kē-ˌtȯŋk
1
: a usually tawdry nightclub or dance hall
especially
: one that features country music
2
: a district marked by places of cheap entertainment
3
: country music that has a heavy beat and lyrics dealing usually with vice or misfortune
1
: of, used in, or being a form of ragtime piano playing performed typically on an upright piano
2
: marked by or characteristic of honky-tonks
Examples of honky-tonk in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Lisa Gutierrez, Kansas City Star, 2 Sep. 2025
Nancy had been distraught when the honky-tonk crooner died, and cherished what seemed to be a genuine friendship with West in the immediate months after Jones’ death that quickly blossomed into romance.
—Cheyenne Roundtree, Rolling Stone, 28 Aug. 2025
When work dried up in Paris, Riley returned to San Francisco and to his old job playing honky-tonk piano in a saloon.
—William Robin, New Yorker, 26 Aug. 2025
Previously, Walker released a trilogy of albums chronicling the lives of patrons in a fictional honky-tonk.
—Jessica Nicholson, Billboard, 25 Aug. 2025
Spend an evening in East Austin to two-step at a honky-tonk or toast with friends over award-winning cocktails.
—Amanda Ogle, Travel + Leisure, 23 Aug. 2025
Others also planning to open in the coming months at the Arcade are NADC Burger, Roza bar from the co-owner of Cafe Roze, Roberta's pizza and Buddy's honky-tonk from a co-owner of Pearl Diver.
—Mackensy Lunsford, The Tennessean, 21 Aug. 2025
My next record is gonna be the honky-tonk-iest one ever!
—Chris Willman, Variety, 9 Aug. 2025
Marty Stuart & His Fabulous Superlatives opened the show with a blend of rockabilly, honky-tonk and bluegrass.
—Ed Masley, AZCentral.com, 9 Aug. 2025
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Adjective
The group dined Friday at The Twelve Thirty Club, a honky-tonk and supper club co-owned by Justin Timberlake, according to social media posts by Swift fans in Nashville.
—Lisa Gutierrez, Kansas City Star, 2 Sep. 2025
Nancy had been distraught when the honky-tonk crooner died, and cherished what seemed to be a genuine friendship with West in the immediate months after Jones’ death that quickly blossomed into romance.
—Cheyenne Roundtree, Rolling Stone, 28 Aug. 2025
When work dried up in Paris, Riley returned to San Francisco and to his old job playing honky-tonk piano in a saloon.
—William Robin, New Yorker, 26 Aug. 2025
Previously, Walker released a trilogy of albums chronicling the lives of patrons in a fictional honky-tonk.
—Jessica Nicholson, Billboard, 25 Aug. 2025
Spend an evening in East Austin to two-step at a honky-tonk or toast with friends over award-winning cocktails.
—Amanda Ogle, Travel + Leisure, 23 Aug. 2025
Others also planning to open in the coming months at the Arcade are NADC Burger, Roza bar from the co-owner of Cafe Roze, Roberta's pizza and Buddy's honky-tonk from a co-owner of Pearl Diver.
—Mackensy Lunsford, The Tennessean, 21 Aug. 2025
My next record is gonna be the honky-tonk-iest one ever!
—Chris Willman, Variety, 9 Aug. 2025
Marty Stuart & His Fabulous Superlatives opened the show with a blend of rockabilly, honky-tonk and bluegrass.
—Ed Masley, AZCentral.com, 9 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Honky-tonk.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/honky-tonk. Accessed 10 Sep. 2025.
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