ilk

1 of 3

noun

ˈilk 

: sort, kind

politicians and their ilk

ilk

2 of 3

pronoun (1)

chiefly Scotland

: same

—used with that especially in the names of landed families

ilk

3 of 3

pronoun (2)

chiefly Scotland

: each

Did you know?

The Old English pronoun ilca is the predecessor of the modern noun ilk, but by way of a pronoun ilk that does not exist in most dialects of modern English. That ilk is synonymous with same, and persists in Scots where it's used in the phrase of that ilk, meaning "of the same place, territorial designation, or name." It is used chiefly in reference to the names of land-owning families and their eponymous estates, as in "the Guthries of that ilk," which means "the Guthries of Guthrie." Centuries ago a misunderstanding arose concerning the Scots phrase: it was interpreted as meaning "of that kind or sort," a usage that found its way into modern English. Ilk has been established in English with its current meaning and part of speech since the late 18th century.

Synonyms

Noun

• breed
• class
• description
• feather
• genre
• kidney
• kind
• like
• manner
• nature
• order
• sort
• species
• strain
• stripe
• type
• variety

Examples of ilk in a Sentence

Noun

The club attracts punk rockers and others of that ilk.

we're looking for chestnuts and other items of that ilk for our autumn decorations

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Schurmann, in tandem with his talented crafts team, showcases plenty of visual dexterity — a delightful discovery since family-friendly films of this ilk so often talk down to their audience. —Courtney Howard, Variety, 16 Aug. 2024

While well-received, Borderlands 3 arrived at a time when players were turning against games of its ilk. —Allegra Frank, TIME, 9 Aug. 2024

Mabel Berezin, a professor of sociology at Cornell University, says Vance and his ilk have clearly tapped into something that resonates with conservative voters who feel alienated from the changing world around them. —Riley Beggin, USA TODAY, 30 June 2024

Of the new-money ilk, she’s initially shunned by high society, but quickly pushes back and muscles her way to the top. —Harrison Richlin, IndieWire, 23 June 2024

Word History

Etymology

Pronoun (1)

Middle English, from Old English ilca, from *i- that, the same (akin to Goth is he, Latin, he, that) + *lik- form (whence Old English līc body) — more at iterate, like

Pronoun (2)

Middle English, adjective & pronoun, from Old English ylc, ǣlc — more at each

First Known Use

Noun

1790, in the meaning defined above

Pronoun (1)

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined above

Pronoun (2)

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

ilk

noun

ˈilk

: sort entry 1 sense 1a, kind

gamers and their ilk