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
Leena Tailor, HollywoodReporter, 3 Oct. 2025
In April 2024, Wallen was arrested after throwing a chair off the sixth-story roof of Eric Church’s new bar and honky-tonk, Chief’s, in downtown Nashville.
—Jon Blistein, Rolling Stone, 1 Oct. 2025
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
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
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Adjective
That good time starts on the ground floor honky-tonk, which leads up to the restaurant, offering dishes like scallops with artichoke fondue.
—Leena Tailor, HollywoodReporter, 3 Oct. 2025
In April 2024, Wallen was arrested after throwing a chair off the sixth-story roof of Eric Church’s new bar and honky-tonk, Chief’s, in downtown Nashville.
—Jon Blistein, Rolling Stone, 1 Oct. 2025
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
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
Cite this Entry
“Honky-tonk.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/honky-tonk. Accessed 5 Oct. 2025.
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