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The noun ilk comes from the Old English pronoun ilca by way of a pronoun ilk that is still in use, but not in most modern English dialects. That ilk is synonymous with same, and persists chiefly in Scotland where it's used in the phrase "of that ilk," meaning "of the same place, territorial designation, or name." It is generally used in reference to the names of land-owning families and their eponymous estates, as in "the Grants of that ilk," which means "the Grants of Grant." In the late 1700s, the Scots phrase extended to mean "of that kind or sort," a usage that found its way into modern English.
Examples of ilk in a Sentence
James L. Edwards Iii, New York Times, 9 Apr. 2025
But why do these terrible people and their dangerous ilk remain enduringly popular?
—Stephen Schaefer, Boston Herald, 3 Apr. 2025
Though Bridget's rant didn't single out any specific influencers by name, the N.Y.C. ilk apparently took offense, and some even responded directly.
—Zoey Lyttle, People.com, 18 Mar. 2025
Yet to those who didn’t live through the Dončić experience — the front office executives, coaches and scouts who would love nothing more than to get their hands on a player of his ilk — all these justifications for the trade simply don’t compute.
—Sam Amick, The Athletic, 26 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for ilk
Cite this Entry
“Ilk.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ilk. Accessed 4 May. 2025.
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