plural punks
1
: a usually petty gangster, hoodlum, or ruffian
2
3
4
[probably partly from punk entry 3]
: nonsense, foolishness
5
archaic
: a woman who engages in sex acts and especially sexual intercourse in exchange for pay : a woman who is a sex worker
1
a
: of or relating to punk rock
b
: relating to or being a style (as of dress or hair) inspired by punk rock
2
: very poor : inferior
played a punk game
3
: being in poor health
said that she was feeling punk
1
: wood so decayed as to be dry, crumbly, and useful for tinder
2
: a preparation (as of a stick of coated wood) that burns slowly and is used to ignite fuses especially of fireworks
Examples of punk in a Sentence
Noun (1)
an impertinent punk who was trying to tell senior colleagues how to do their jobs
the vigilante was hailed by some as a hero for standing up to the punks who had repeatedly threatened his family
claims made by cosmetic companies about their antiaging creams that turned out to be a lot of punk
Adjective
she plays a punk game of tennis, so you won't have any trouble beating her
the acting in the movie ranged all the way from poor to punk
Recent Examples on the Web
Los Angeles Times, 22 Apr. 2026
What began seven years ago as a freewheeling alt-country outlet for Max Bottner, formerly of Indiana egg-punks Liquids and the anarchist hardcore band Side Action, eventually expanded to a full band.
—Nina Corcoran, Pitchfork, 22 Apr. 2026
Matt Grobar, Deadline, 20 Apr. 2026
An intimate portrait of abstract painter Guggi that traces his journey from humble Irish beginnings—with friends Bono and Gavin Friday—through his post-punk phase and toward international acclaim as an uncompromising artist.
—Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 16 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for punk
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Noun
Gregg Foreman, the founder of the influential blues-punk band the Delta 72 and a longtime collaborator with Cat Power and other acts, has died.
—Los Angeles Times, 22 Apr. 2026
What began seven years ago as a freewheeling alt-country outlet for Max Bottner, formerly of Indiana egg-punks Liquids and the anarchist hardcore band Side Action, eventually expanded to a full band.
—Nina Corcoran, Pitchfork, 22 Apr. 2026
Adjective
Described as Superbad meets Derry Girls, Bender is based on the late-’70s, post-punk Dublin coming-of-age experiences of Adrian Cunningham, who penned the script.
—Matt Grobar, Deadline, 20 Apr. 2026
An intimate portrait of abstract painter Guggi that traces his journey from humble Irish beginnings—with friends Bono and Gavin Friday—through his post-punk phase and toward international acclaim as an uncompromising artist.
—Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 16 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for punk
Cite this Entry
“Punk.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/punk. Accessed 25 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
punk
2 of 2 adjective1
: very poor in quality
played a punk game
2
: being in poor health
feeling punk today
3
a
: of or relating to punk rock
b
: relating to or being a style (as of clothing or hair) first inspired by punk rock
Etymology
Noun
origin unknown
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