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
Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 10 June 2026
Other performers are the Beta7 Band from Ramona and San Diego playing Ska music, and the CFA Band from Rialto playing Hispanic punk music.
—Julie Gallant, San Diego Union-Tribune, 10 June 2026
Alex Robert Ross, Pitchfork, 8 June 2026
The songs are sharper and more confident, shaped by a successful return to touring and the guidance of producer Nick Launay, whose own history stretches back to the original post-punk era.
—Steve Appleford, SPIN, 29 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for punk
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Noun
The punk scene was all about young, young, young.
—Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 10 June 2026
Other performers are the Beta7 Band from Ramona and San Diego playing Ska music, and the CFA Band from Rialto playing Hispanic punk music.
—Julie Gallant, San Diego Union-Tribune, 10 June 2026
Adjective
Ninety-second hits of twee pop and bony post-punk make up the middle section of the record, all built around three to four power chords and delivered with overdriven vocals and feral enthusiasm.
—Alex Robert Ross, Pitchfork, 8 June 2026
The songs are sharper and more confident, shaped by a successful return to touring and the guidance of producer Nick Launay, whose own history stretches back to the original post-punk era.
—Steve Appleford, SPIN, 29 May 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 14 Jun. 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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