rinky-dink

adjective

ˈriŋ-kē-ˌdiŋk 

1

: small-time

2

: old-fashioned

Examples of rinky-dink in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Google seemingly trusts itself to keep that data secure, but some rinky-dink startup in Europe? — Ryan Whitwam, ArsTechnica, 29 June 2026

Because these were not your rinky-dink state fair ziplines. — Amber Harding Outkick, FOXNews.com, 24 Apr. 2026

And there was a asymmetric warfare going on, frankly, between this rinky-dink Substack and this massive consortium of media companies pushing Olivia’s account in front of everyone and the truth in my view went out. — Ben Smith, semafor.com, 9 Jan. 2026

The only problem is that, for years, true challengers have been forced to participate in rinky-dink Turkey Trot 5Ks. — Maeve Dunigan, New Yorker, 25 Nov. 2025

Word History

Etymology

origin unknown

First Known Use

1913, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for rinky-dink

• bobolink
• countersink
• bethink
• downlink
• groupthink
• hoodwink
• rethink
• uplink
• blink
• brink
• chink
• cinque