wonky

1 of 2

adjective (1)

ˈwäŋ-kē 

ˈwȯŋ-

wonkier; wonkiest

US

: characteristic of, relating to, or suggestive of a wonk: such as

a

: preoccupied with arcane details or procedures in a specialized field

She can get wonky about the economy when she wants to, but what sets her apart is her ability to tell a coherent, populist story about it in a way that other members of her party are either unwilling or unable to do.

—Rebecca Traister

b

: used by or appealing to wonks

… one of those politicians who actually find pleasure in the often-wonky details of public policy.

—John Powers

wonkiness noun

wonky

2 of 2

adjective (2)

won·​ky ˈwäŋ-kē 

wonkier; wonkiest

1

British : unsteady, shaky

2

chiefly British : awry, wrong

Examples of wonky in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

Downloads had been seen as one key industry metric, but those numbers also are wonky as changes to Apple’s operating system continue to negatively impact the numbers. —Caitlin Huston, HollywoodReporter, 14 Aug. 2025

The volume radio dial is wonky on 2010 Toyota RAV4. —John Paul Senior Manager Public Affairs and Traffic Safety Aaa Northeast, Hartford Courant, 10 Aug. 2025

Even something as innocent as a kid tossing their friend’s bottle with an accidentally wonky throw can be potentially dangerous. —Anja Webb, Parents, 8 Aug. 2025

Despite her relatively lower public profile, Lee has stayed busy — primarily in her mission to reform Oakland's wonky system of government. —Shomik Mukherjee, Mercury News, 7 Aug. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Adjective (2)

probably alteration of English dialect wankle, from Middle English wankel, from Old English wancol; akin to Old High German wankōn to totter — more at wench

First Known Use

Adjective (1)

1978, in the meaning defined above

Adjective (2)

1918, in the meaning defined at sense 1