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
Bob Mehr, Memphis Commercial Appeal, 20 Jan. 2026
Come for the home brew, stay for the honky-tonk.
—Elise Taylor, Vanity Fair, 19 Jan. 2026
The ad shows the pair two-stepping in cowboy boots at a Billy Bob’s–style honky-tonk before cutting to them in business attire, swing dancing in the Senate.
—Marley Malenfant, Austin American Statesman, 16 Jan. 2026
Some main streets maintain a quieter, almost nostalgic presence, while others are more lively (take a walk down Nashville’s Lower Broadway at night for a real dose of honky-tonk revelry).
—Lydia Mansel, Southern Living, 16 Jan. 2026
Nearby Ryman is Tootsie’s Orchid Lounge, a legendary honky-tonk bar in downtown Nashville.
—Ashley J. Dimella, FOXNews.com, 1 Jan. 2026
Scott, who grew up playing soccer, including at Richardson High School, was one of hundreds of people in attendance at the world’s largest honky-tonk for the draw, joining fans from South America, Mexico and many from Dallas-Fort Worth.
—Lawrence Dow, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 5 Dec. 2025
The first floor features a honky-tonk with two bars and two stages (including the original stage of Ernest Tubb’s Midnite Jamboree), as well as photos of Tubb with his fellow country stars.
—Jessica Nicholson, Billboard, 12 Nov. 2025
The four-story, pre-Civil War structure is transformed into a joint record shop, honky-tonk, music venue and private speakeasy.
—Hadley Hitson, Nashville Tennessean, 10 Nov. 2025
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Adjective
Gilley, a chart-topping country singer and nightclub owner, became synonymous with honky-tonk hits and Gilley’s Club, the Texas nightspot that helped spark the 1980s’ urban cowboy craze.
—Bob Mehr, Memphis Commercial Appeal, 20 Jan. 2026
Come for the home brew, stay for the honky-tonk.
—Elise Taylor, Vanity Fair, 19 Jan. 2026
The ad shows the pair two-stepping in cowboy boots at a Billy Bob’s–style honky-tonk before cutting to them in business attire, swing dancing in the Senate.
—Marley Malenfant, Austin American Statesman, 16 Jan. 2026
Some main streets maintain a quieter, almost nostalgic presence, while others are more lively (take a walk down Nashville’s Lower Broadway at night for a real dose of honky-tonk revelry).
—Lydia Mansel, Southern Living, 16 Jan. 2026
Nearby Ryman is Tootsie’s Orchid Lounge, a legendary honky-tonk bar in downtown Nashville.
—Ashley J. Dimella, FOXNews.com, 1 Jan. 2026
Scott, who grew up playing soccer, including at Richardson High School, was one of hundreds of people in attendance at the world’s largest honky-tonk for the draw, joining fans from South America, Mexico and many from Dallas-Fort Worth.
—Lawrence Dow, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 5 Dec. 2025
The first floor features a honky-tonk with two bars and two stages (including the original stage of Ernest Tubb’s Midnite Jamboree), as well as photos of Tubb with his fellow country stars.
—Jessica Nicholson, Billboard, 12 Nov. 2025
The four-story, pre-Civil War structure is transformed into a joint record shop, honky-tonk, music venue and private speakeasy.
—Hadley Hitson, Nashville Tennessean, 10 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Honky-tonk.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/honky-tonk. Accessed 29 Jan. 2026.
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