pukka

adjective

ˈpə-kə How to pronounce pukka (audio)
variants also pucka
Definition of pukkanext
as in genuine
being exactly as appears or as claimed wondering whether the old-looking ivory box was pukka—or just something recently manufactured in China

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of pukka And if my name were Nikki or Bobby, the state of the state would be pukka — sorry, strong. — Anand Giridharadas, New York Times, 13 Jan. 2016
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pukka
  1. genuine
  2. authentic
  3. real
  4. true
  5. honest
  6. certified
Adjective
  • Al Jazeera gave the region a genuine public sphere and spared its funder.
    — Güney Yıldız, Forbes.com, 18 July 2026
  • However, that kind of genuine care isn’t a skill that can be trained.
    — Rachel Chang, Travel + Leisure, 17 July 2026
Definition of genuine
Adjective
  • Built on raw, authentic competition, BKB delivers world championship bare knuckle boxing to fans through a growing slate of live events and broadcast partnerships, including distribution via VICE TV, talkSPORT, and Telemundo.
    — James Varsallone, Miami Herald, 15 July 2026
  • Managers who use medium to high levels of AI assistance in writing emails, for instance, are seen as less authentic and trustworthy, according to a study published in July 2025.
    — Sophie Caldwell, CNBC, 15 July 2026
Definition of authentic
Adjective
  • Now, more Americans are beginning to make the roughly three-hour car ride from Santo Domingo, trading the predictability of Punta Cana for something more real.
    — Rafael Peña, Miami Herald, 15 July 2026
  • Our research and experiences, along with that of other experts, show these two services can make a real difference.
    — Jane Callahan, The Conversation, 14 July 2026
Definition of real
Adjective
  • This underscores how Apple's control over its devices, from hardware to software, limits true ownership and poses challenges for long-term digital preservation.
    — Ewan Spence, Forbes.com, 6 July 2026
  • If religion is corrupted by breaking down the wall of separation, much the same is true of the state.
    — Kenneth Seeskin, Chicago Tribune, 5 July 2026
Definition of true
Adjective
  • That is also where the design's costs sit, and an honest account keeps them in view.
    — Güney Yıldız, Forbes.com, 18 July 2026
  • Amodei’s assessment of the dangers may be right or wrong, but an ad that grapples with those risks is arguably more honest than previous campaigns that present Claude as a tool for tinkerers and problem solvers.
    — Harry Booth, Time, 17 July 2026
Definition of honest
Adjective
  • Anyone viewing a partial solar eclipse should wear certified solar eclipse glasses or use a handheld solar viewer that meets the ISO 12312-2 international safety standard, NASA recommends.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 13 July 2026
  • General waste goes into certified blue bags that residents buy.
    — Christopher Elliott, Forbes.com, 11 July 2026
Definition of certified

Browse Nearby Words

puking
pukka
pulchritude
See all Nearby Words

Podcast

Theme music by Joshua Stamper ©2006 New Jerusalem Music/ASCAP

Cite this Entry

“Pukka.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pukka. Accessed 20 Jul. 2026.

Copy Citation
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of raffish

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Do you 'say your piece' or 'say your peace'?

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Commonly Misspelled Words
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat

The Longest Long Words List

Ten Words Ending with a Silent ‘T’

Why do we say 'fly off the handle'?
See More

Popular

See More

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
child-detective
Spot the Misspelled Word July 2026 Those little red underlines can't help you now...
See All