noun

kink

KIHNGK

noun

A tight twist or bend in something that is normally straight, such as hair, rope, or wire.

"She ironed the shirt to smooth out a stubborn kink in the collar."

"There was a kink in the garden hose stopping the water from flowing."

A small flaw or snag in a plan, system, or process that needs to be fixed before it runs smoothly.

"The team is still working out the kinks in the new software."

An unconventional sexual preference or taste.

"Every couple has their own kinks and boundaries to discuss."

How to Use Kink

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishA twist, glitch, or (informally) an unusual sexual taste — the common thread is a bend or deviation from what's straight or standard.

Common mistake

In everyday writing, "work out the kinks" (fix small problems) is far more common than the sexual sense — context makes the meaning clear.

Common pairings

work out the kinks a kink in the plan a kink in the hose

Word Forms

kinked past tense, kinked past tense, kinks plural, kinks plural, kinks singular, kinks singular

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Fill the Gap

Can you complete this real example?

She ironed the shirt to smooth out a stubborn _____ in the collar.

Etymology

Borrowed into English from Dutch or Low German "kink," originally describing a twist in a rope, likely related to an older Germanic word for a sharp turn or bend.

Rhymes for kink

ink pink link mink oink sink wink dink fink rink tink bink

See all rhymes for kink →