inkling

noun

in·​kling ˈiŋ-kliŋ How to pronounce inkling (audio)
1
: a slight knowledge or vague notion
had not the faintest inkling of what it was all aboutH. W. Carter
2
: a slight indication or suggestion : hint, clue
there was no path—no inkling even of a trackNew Yorker

Did you know?

This may come as a surprise, but inkling has not a drop to do with ink, whether of squid, tattoo, or any other variety. Originating in English in the early 16th century, inkling comes instead from Middle English yngkiling, meaning “whisper or mention,” and perhaps further back from the verb inclen, meaning “to hint at.” An early sense of the word meant “a faint perceptible sound or undertone” or “rumor,” but now people usually use the word to refer to a vague notion someone has (“had an inkling they would be there”), or to a hint of something present (“a conversation with not even an inkling of anger”). One related word you might not have heard of is the rare verb inkle, a back-formation of inkling that in some British English dialects can mean “to utter or communicate in an undertone or whisper, to hint, give a hint of” or “to have an idea or notion of.” (Inkle is also a noun referring to “a colored linen tape or braid woven on a very narrow loom and used for trimming” but etymologists don’t have an inkling of where that inkle came from.)

Examples of inkling in a Sentence

did not give the slightest inkling that he was planning to quit
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
For Rosenfeld, the first inklings of our choosiness could be glimpsed in Western Europe in the late 17th century. Gal Beckerman, The Atlantic, 23 June 2025 The inklings of an answer are emerging from a surprising place: studies of rare stars moving through our own galaxy at truly ludicrous speeds. Phil Plait, Scientific American, 22 May 2025 Helen Dunlea’s early inklings have proven to be very much on target. Chuck Fieldman, Chicago Tribune, 19 May 2025 The first inkling of the study appeared in a New York Times article. Ryan Gaydos, FOXNews.com, 14 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for inkling

Word History

Etymology

Middle English yngkiling whisper, mention, probably from inclen to hint at; akin to Old English inca suspicion

First Known Use

1513, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Time Traveler
The first known use of inkling was in 1513

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Cite this Entry

“Inkling.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/inkling. Accessed 30 Jun. 2025.

Kids Definition

inkling

noun
in·​kling ˈiŋ-kliŋ How to pronounce inkling (audio)
: a vague notion : hint
didn't have an inkling of what it all meant

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