Punk or punk rock is rock music that is played in a fast, loud, and aggressive way and is often a protest against conventional attitudes and behaviour. Punk rock was particularly popular in the late 1970s.
I was never really into punk.
...a punk rock band.
2. adjective [ADJECTIVE noun]
Punk clothes or styles are associated with punk music and are very noticeable and unconventional.
...a punk hairdo.
3. countable noun
A punk or a punk rocker is a young person who likes punk music and dresses in a very noticeable and unconventional way, for example by having brightly coloured hair and wearing metal chains.
4. countable noun
A punk is a young person who behaves in a rude, aggressive, or violent way.
[US, informal]
He is fast getting a reputation as a young punk.
Synonyms: delinquent, rebel, offender, wrongdoer More Synonyms of punk
punk in British English1
(pʌŋk)
noun
1.
a.
a youth movement of the late 1970s, characterized by anti-Establishment slogans and outrageous clothes and hairstyles
b.
an adherent of punk
c. short for punk rock
d.
(as modifier)
a punk record
2.
an inferior, rotten, or worthless person or thing
3.
worthless articles collectively
4.
a petty criminal or hoodlum
5. obsolete
a young man kept by another man for sexual purposes; catamite
6. obsolete
a prostitute
adjective
7.
inferior, rotten, or worthless
Derived forms
punkish (ˈpunkish)
adjective
Word origin
C16: via Polari from Spanish pu(n)ta prostitute, pu(n)to male prostitute
punk in British English2
(pʌŋk)
noun
1.
dried decayed wood that smoulders when ignited: used as tinder
2.
any of various other substances that smoulder when ignited, esp one used to lightfireworks
Word origin
C18: of uncertain origin
punk in American English1
(pʌŋk)
US
noun
any substance, as decayed wood, that smolders when ignited, used as tinder; esp.,a chemically treated fungous substance shaped into slender, fragile, light-brown sticks: the glowing tips are used to light fireworks, etc.
Word origin
prob. var. of spunk
punk in American English2
(pʌŋk)
noun
1. Obsolete
a prostitute
2. US, Slang
a.
catamite
b.
a male homosexual
c.
a young hoodlum
d.
any person, esp. a youngster, regarded as inexperienced, insignificant, presumptuous, etc.
3.
a.
punk rock
b.
a style, originating among fans of punk rock, characterized by motley clothes, oddly clipped hair, etc.
adjective
4. US, Slang
poor or bad in condition, quality, etc.
5.
of or having to do with punk rock or the style called punk
Derived forms
punky (ˈpunky)
adjectiveWord forms: ˈpunkier or ˈpunkiest
Word origin
Early ModE slang < ?
Examples of 'punk' in a sentence
punk
They tend to favour rock and punk.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
A bonfire of memorabilia has set the ageing fans of punk rock against the offspring of its creators.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
The numbers rubbed off the dials towards the end of the punk era.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
Her collections over the years have been heavily inspired by the punk era.
The Sun (2007)
My boyfriend's look is more metal than punk.
The Sun (2012)
The former punk declined to comment when asked about the Ebola quip last night.
The Sun (2014)
If there was one thing punks despised above all else, it was a hippie.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
And in this atmosphere of frayed nerves and short fuses, punk music was born.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
She filled it with her designs, giving an identity to the punk movement.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
He is a fan of punk rock, but friends say that numbers are his first love.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
Meanwhile, we young punks sat at home astonished.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
One guy who sings in a famous punk band in Seattle did a special song in our church.
Christianity Today (2000)
The idea was an appearance by the punk legends at the bland ceremony would liven it up with a bit of real rock cred.
The Sun (2006)
THIS is what happens when former punk rockers grow up.
The Sun (2008)
Going out to watch a punk rock band at night and doing classical dance during the day just didn't work.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
He played his punk music.
Duncan Hamilton Provided You Don't Kiss Me: 20 Years with Brian Clough (2007)
He wanted him to toughen up our sound a bit, make us more like the punk thing that was then under way.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
A punk band 's moniker is for life.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
I think the only trouble with punk music is that there's no music.
The Sun (2016)
I grew my hair long, pierced my ears and then got slightly stranded by the punk thing.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
In other languages
punk
British English: punk /pʌŋk/ NOUN
Punk or punk rock is rock music that is played in a fast, loud, and aggressive way. Punk rock was particularly popular in the late 1970s.
American English: punk
Arabic: بَنْك
Brazilian Portuguese: punk
Chinese: 朋克摇滚乐
Croatian: punk
Czech: punk
Danish: bølle
Dutch: punk
European Spanish: punk
Finnish: retale
French: punk
German: Blödmann
Greek: αλήτης
Italian: punk
Japanese: チンピラ
Korean: 보잘것없는 사람
Norwegian: drittsekk
Polish: śmieć osoba
European Portuguese: punk
Romanian: punk
Russian: панк-рок
Latin American Spanish: punk
Swedish: skit
Thai: พังค์
Turkish: serseri
Ukrainian: панк
Vietnamese: thể loại punk rock
Chinese translation of 'punk'
punk
(pʌŋk)
n
(c) (also punk rocker) 朋克 (péngkè) (个(個), gè)
(u) (also punk rock) 朋克摇(搖)滚(滾)乐(樂) (péngkè yáogǔnyuè)