funky

1 of 2

adjective (1)

ˈfəŋ-kē 

funkier; funkiest

1

US : having an offensive odor : foul

a funky smell

2

music : having the style and feeling of older African American music (such as blues or gospel) or of funk

especially : characterized by rhythmic elements similar to those of funk

a funky beat

3

informal

a

: odd or quaint in appearance or feeling

a funky little restaurant

b

: unconventionally stylish : hip

funky clothes

… lighting gives the … shops and streets a funky prettiness …

—Pauline Kael

funkily adverb

funkiness noun

funky

2 of 2

adjective (2)

: being in a funk : panicky

Synonyms of funky

Adjective (1)

• bizarre
• funny
• strange
• weird
• odd
• curious
• peculiar
• erratic
• eccentric
• remarkable
• crazy
• unusual
• quirky

Examples of funky in a Sentence

Adjective (2)

a funky antique shop that reflects the owner's decidedly eccentric taste

a funky pair of old socks lying on the locker room floor

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

Daniel Bedrosian was just a teenager when the world’s funkiest spaceship blew his mind. — Adam Kovac, Scientific American, 5 Nov. 2026

Rhythms lapse into funky half time for a moment, then get sucked back into warp speed; loops bounce and jitter across the stereo field. — Andy Cush, Pitchfork, 31 Oct. 2026

Take a towel and soak it in fresh lemon juice before wiping down your shelves and drawers to leave behind a citrus scent that neutralizes funky smells. — Ashlyn Needham, Southern Living, 25 Oct. 2026

The couple co-own JenChan’s, a popular Chinese and pizza restaurant in Atlanta’s quirky Cabbagetown neighborhood, and Mikkelson’s Market, a funky bodega one neighborhood over in Reynoldstown. — Jen Christensen, CNN Money, 24 Oct. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Adjective (1)

funk offensive odor

First Known Use

Adjective (1)

circa 1680, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adjective (2)

1826, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for funky

• chunky
• hunky
• junkie
• monkey
• spunky

Kids Definition

funky

adjective

ˈfəŋ-kē

1

: having a bad smell

2

: down-to-earth in style and feeling

especially : having the style and feeling of funk

a funky beat

3

informal

a

: odd in appearance or feeling

b

: stylish in an untypical way : hip sense 1

funky clothes