wonk
4 synonyms for wonk, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Noun — (informal) Someone, often a student, who studies far more than most.
Synonyms
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
Etymology
American English student slang 1954; perhaps navy slang before that. "Expert" sense popularized in the Clinton administration, 1993. Origin uncertain, possibly from wonky (“shaky, unreliable”) or wank, wanker or simply expressive.
Full origin of wonk →