junker

1 of 2

noun (1)

junk·​er ˈjəŋ-kər How to pronounce junker (audio)
: something (such as an automobile) of such age and condition as to be ready for scrapping

Junker

2 of 2

noun (2)

Jun·​ker ˈyu̇ŋ-kər How to pronounce Junker (audio)
: a member of the Prussian landed aristocracy
Junkerdom noun
Junkerism noun

Examples of junker in a Sentence

Noun (1) I can't believe he's still driving that old junker. they finally traded in their old junker for a nice new car
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
Noun
The original — which helped make the show’s title into a universal shorthand for junker rejuvenation — aired on MTV for six seasons from 2004-2007. Gil Kaufman, Billboard, 3 May 2024 Scrap Car Comparison scraps thousands of cars every year, but this year has decided to put them to good use by naming those junkers after your ex. Melissa Locker, Southern Living, 3 Feb. 2024 It’s been on the airwaves for about 50 years — almost as long as California has had its pioneering Lemon Law protecting us from getting stuck with junkers. Patt Morrison, Los Angeles Times, 30 Aug. 2023 The cast from Bram Stoker’s novel are transposed to space junkers, who come across the derelict spaceship Demeter. Vulture, 13 Aug. 2023 An episode might follow someone who had long suffered driving an unreliable, junker of a car. New York Times, 11 July 2022 The pair work together to repair a junker training robot to get ring-ready, while simultaneously mending their relationship. Nick Romano, EW.com, 13 Jan. 2022
Noun
The original — which helped make the show’s title into a universal shorthand for junker rejuvenation — aired on MTV for six seasons from 2004-2007. Gil Kaufman, Billboard, 3 May 2024 Scrap Car Comparison scraps thousands of cars every year, but this year has decided to put them to good use by naming those junkers after your ex. Melissa Locker, Southern Living, 3 Feb. 2024 It’s been on the airwaves for about 50 years — almost as long as California has had its pioneering Lemon Law protecting us from getting stuck with junkers. Patt Morrison, Los Angeles Times, 30 Aug. 2023 The cast from Bram Stoker’s novel are transposed to space junkers, who come across the derelict spaceship Demeter. Vulture, 13 Aug. 2023 An episode might follow someone who had long suffered driving an unreliable, junker of a car. New York Times, 11 July 2022 The pair work together to repair a junker training robot to get ring-ready, while simultaneously mending their relationship. Nick Romano, EW.com, 13 Jan. 2022

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

junk entry 1 + -er entry 2

Noun (2)

German, from Old High German junchērro, literally, young lord

First Known Use

Noun (1)

1932, in the meaning defined above

Noun (2)

1849, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of junker was in 1849

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Cite this Entry

“Junker.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/junker. Accessed 9 Sep. 2025.

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