plonk

verb \ ˈpläŋk , ˈplȯŋk \

Updated on: 5 Apr 2018

variant of plunk

transitive verb

1 : to pluck or hit so as to produce a quick, hollow, metallic, or harsh sound

2 : to set down suddenly : plump

intransitive verb

1 : to make a plunking sound

2 : to drop abruptly : dive

3 : to come out in favor of someone or something : plump —used with for

plonk

noun \ ˈpläŋk , ˈplȯŋk \

Definition of plonk

chiefly British

: cheap or inferior wine

See plonk defined for English-language learners

Recent Examples of plonk from the Web

The embargoes have forced producers to make better plonk: European oenophiles are picky.

— The Economist, "Noroc (cheers) for Moldovan wine," 28 Mar. 2018
Counterfeiters started obtaining empty bottles of expensive wine and filling them with plonk, and even created ersatz wine by mixing sugar water with artificial color and flavor.

— steven strogatz, The New Yorker, "Can Wine Transform China’s Countryside?," 4 Feb. 2013
Developers rip out protective mangrove swamps to plonk hotels by the water’s edge.

— The Economist, "How the Caribbean should cope with Hurricane Irma," 14 Sep. 2017
Among whites, sauvignon blanc was the star, although chenin blanc, known locally as steen, was by far the most widely planted, having arrived in the 17th century with the earliest Cape settlers, who mainly used it to make cheap plonk and brandy.

— jay mcinerney, Town & Country, "Why You Should be Drinking South African Chardonnay," 23 June 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'plonk.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.