Punk Meaning
/ˈpʌŋk/Definition, CEFR level B2, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.
Listen pronunciation
Definition
nounOne who engages in sexual intercourse
nounOne who engages in sexual intercourse, A female prostitute.
Sentence Examples
Tom only listens to punk rock.
I used to be a planner, but now I'm a wreckless punk.
He listened to his old punk records nostalgically.
CEFR Practice Quiz
His leather jacket and safety pins made him look like a typical ____.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The ____ movement of the 1970s rejected mainstream culture and embraced a raw, rebellious aesthetic.
Word Origin & History
Uncertain. Possibly from punk (“rotten wood dust used as tinder”), attested since 1678, to anything worthless (attested since 1869) and then to any undesirable person (since 1908). The relatively tame 21st century usage of punk (“prank”, verb) was popularized by the American television show Punk'd (2003).
Literary Quotations & Historical Citations
"My lord, she may be a punk; for many of them are neither maid, widow, nor wife."
— c. 1603–1604 (date written), William Shakespeare, “Measure for Measure”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act V, scene i]:
"[…] And made them fight, like mad or drunk, / For Dame Religion, as for punk..."
— 1662 (indicated as 1663), [Samuel Butler], “[The First Part of Hudibras]”, in Hudibras. The First and Second Parts. […], London: […] John Martyn and Henry Herringman, […], published 1678; republished in A[lfred] R[ayney] Waller, editor, Hudibras: Written in the Time of the Late Wars, Cambridge, Cambridgeshire: University Press, 1905, →OCLC:
"Flip [Lady Flippant]. I love, of my life men ſhould deal freely vvith me; there are ſo fevv men vvill deal freely with one— / Sir Sim[on Addlepot]. Are you not a Fireſhip? a Punk, Madam? / Flip. VVell, Sir, I love Raillery. / Sir Sim. Faith and troth I do not railly, I deal freely."
— 1671 March (first performance), [William] Wycherley, Love in a Wood, or, St James’s Park. A Comedy, […], London: […] J[ohn] M[acock] for H[enry] Herringman, […], published 1672, →OCLC, Act II, page 22:
"However, terrible as it may seem to the tall maiden sisters of J.P.'s in Queen Anne houses with walled vegetable gardens, this courtesan, strumpet, harlot, whore, punk, fille de joie, street-walker, this trollop, this trull, this baggage, this hussy, this drab, skit, rig, quean, mopsy, demirep, demimondaine, this wanton, this fornicatress, this doxy, this concubine, this frail sister, this poor Queenie—did actually solicit me, did actually say 'coming home to-night, dearie' and my soul was not blasted enough to call a policeman."
— 1936, Anthony Bertram, Like the Phoenix:
"The Beaus...
At night make a Punk of him that's first drunk."
— 1698, Womens Complaint to Venus:
Explore More B2 Vocabulary Words
CEFR Practice Quiz
His leather jacket and safety pins made him look like a typical ____.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The ____ movement of the 1970s rejected mainstream culture and embraced a raw, rebellious aesthetic.