If you talk about people or things of the same ilk, you mean people or things of the same type as a person or thing that has been mentioned.
Finding and talking to others of your ilk is easy through online communities.
It's secure and private – for a celebrity, sports star or someone of that ilk.
Synonyms: type, sort, kind, class More Synonyms of ilk
ilk in British English1
(ɪlk)
noun
1.
a type; class; sort (esp in the phrase of that, his, her, etc, ilk)
people of that ilk should not be allowed here
2. of that ilk
▶ USAGE Although the use of ilk in the sense of sense 1 is sometimes condemned as being the result of a misunderstandingof the original Scottish expression of that ilk, it is nevertheless well established and generally acceptable
Word origin
Old English ilca the same family, same kind; related to Gothic is he, Latin is, Old English gelīc like
ilk in British English2
(ɪlk) or ilka (ˈɪlkə)
determiner
Scottish
each; every
Word origin
Old English ǣlc each (+ a1)
ilk in American English1
(ɪlk)
adjective
1. Obsolete
same; like
noun
2.
kind; sort; class
only in of that (or his, her, etc.) ilk, of the same sort or class: from a misunderstanding of the phrase of that ilk as used in Scotland to mean “of the same name (as the place he owns or from whichhe comes)” [MacDonald of that ilk (i.e., MacDonald of MacDonald)] and often used disparagingly
Word origin
Scot dial. < ME ilke < OE ilca, same; prob. < *ī-līca < ī-, lit., the + -lica, like: see like1
ilk in American English2
(ɪlk)
adjective
Chiefly Scottish
each; every
: also ˈilka (ˈɪlkə)
Word origin
ME, Northern & Midlands var. of ilch, ælch < OE ælc: see each
Examples of 'ilk' in a sentence
ilk
It would be that ilk of thing.
Evans, Peter & Deehan, Geoff The Descent of Mind - the how and why of intelligence (1990)
This is a country where it pays to dig a bit for treasures and here was a football match of similar ilk.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
While card games of this ilk can often seem geeky, football has the mass appeal to counteract that.
The Sun (2014)
So it would be that ilk of thing, and it's a whole programme.
Evans, Peter & Deehan, Geoff The Descent of Mind - the how and why of intelligence (1990)
(noun)
Definition
a type or class
politicians and their ilk
Synonyms
type
There are various types of the disease.
sort
What sort of person is he?
kind
Donations came in from all kinds of people.
class
a new class of personal computer
style
six scenes in the style of a classical Greek tragedy
character (informal)
What an unpleasant character he is!
variety
She grows 12 varieties of old-fashioned roses.
brand
the British brand of socialism
breed
the new breed of walking holidays
stamp
Monty is a man of a very different stamp.
description
Events of this description occurred daily.
kidney
disposition
Usage note
Some people object to the use of the phrase of that ilk to mean `of that type or class', claiming that it arises from a misunderstanding of the original Scottish expression. The Scottish phrase of that ilk has a very specific meaning, indicating that the person mentioned is laird of an estate with the same name as his family, for example Moncrieff of that ilk (that is, `Moncrieff, laird of Moncrieff estate'). The more general use is, however, well established and is now generally regarded as acceptable.