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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
Max Goldbart, Deadline, 6 Mar. 2026
Trump, Hegseth and their ilk are not them.
—Gustavo Arellano, Los Angeles Times, 6 Mar. 2026
Rosenberg and others of his ilk like Tucker Carlson, Alex Jones and Hasan Piker and Bob Grant from decades ago, play to their audience’s fears, getting their listeners riled up.
—New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 4 Mar. 2026
With sisters that specialize in this ilk of blonde, Elizabeth Olsen's beige old money is broken up only by some brightening highlights within her wispy bangs.
—Calin Van Paris, InStyle, 3 Mar. 2026
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Cite this Entry
“Ilk.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ilk. Accessed 10 Mar. 2026.
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