English Meaning & Definitions
A loud, fast-moving, and aggressive form of rock music that emerged in the mid-1970s, characterized by anti-establishment lyrics and minimalist instrumentation.
- “The club was famous for hosting underground punk bands in the late seventies.”
- “He grew up listening to classic British punk on vinyl records.”
A worthless, insignificant, or insolent person, typically a young man involved in petty crime or misbehavior.
- “The detective told the young punk to keep his hands where he could see them.”
- “Don't let a couple of punks ruin your evening downtown.”
Relating to, characteristic of, or associated with punk music or its associated fashion and culture.
- “She wore a leather jacket with a distinct punk aesthetic.”
- “They formed a punk rock band during their high school years.”
English Synonyms & Near Equivalents
English Antonyms & Opposites
Comprehensive Thesaurus Breakdown
Compare formal, informal, literary synonyms and register nuances for “punk”.
Originally recorded in the late 16th century meaning a prostitute or worthless person (derived from a word for tinder or dry wood, 'punu'), the term evolved through American slang to mean a young criminal, a petty gangster, or an inexperienced youth. In the 1970s, it was famously adopted by the countercultural punk rock movement to celebrate rebellion, anti-establishment views, and raw, DIY aesthetics.
Picture a rebellious teenager with spiky neon hair jumping up and down at a loud concert: that energetic, defiant spirit is pure 'punk'.
Frequently Asked Questions About “punk”
1. What is the meaning of “punk” in English?
In English, punk (noun) is defined as: “A loud, fast-moving, and aggressive form of rock music that emerged in the mid-1970s, characterized by anti-establishment lyrics and minimalist instrumentation.”.
2. How do you use “punk” in a sentence?
“The club was famous for hosting underground punk bands in the late seventies.”
3. What are English synonyms of “punk”?
4. What is the etymology and word origin of “punk”?
Originally recorded in the late 16th century meaning a prostitute or worthless person (derived from a word for tinder or dry wood, 'punu'), the term evolved through American slang to mean a young criminal, a petty gangster, or an inexperienced youth. In the 1970s, it was famously adopted by the countercultural punk rock movement to celebrate rebellion, anti-establishment views, and raw, DIY aesthetics.
🇬🇧More English Words to English
View all English words →A measurement of time indicating an instantaneous occurrence or a state where no time has elapsed.
The base unit of time in the International System of Units (SI), equal to the duration of 9,192,631,770 periods of the radiation corresponding to the transition between the two hyperfine levels of the ground state of the caesium-133 atom.
A specific duration of time equal to one hour and forty-six minutes and twelve seconds.
The cardinal number equal to one thousand million (1,000,000,000), expressed in scientific notation as 10^9.