noun
quack
kwak
Quack (noun) means the harsh, honking sound a duck makes. Example: “The pond was noisy with the quack of ducks fighting over bread.”
noun
1
The harsh, honking sound a duck makes.
"The pond was noisy with the quack of ducks fighting over bread."
2
A person who dishonestly claims medical expertise they don't have, or who peddles fake cures.
"The so-called doctor turned out to be a quack selling sugar pills as miracle cures."
"Consumer groups warned buyers about the online quack pushing unproven supplements."
verb
1
Of a duck, to make its characteristic call.
"The ducklings quacked loudly whenever they saw food."
How to use quack
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishEither a duck's sound, or a fraud pretending to have medical qualifications.
Common mistake
A "quack" doctor is not simply a bad doctor — the word implies deliberate fraud or lack of real qualifications.
Common pairings
a quack doctor
quack remedy
quack cure
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Word forms
- Plural
- quacks
- Third person singular
- quacks
- Past tense
- quacked
- Comparative
- more quack, quacker
- Superlative
- most quack, quackest
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The pond was noisy with the _____ of ducks fighting over bread.
Etymology
Originally imitative of the sound itself, from Middle English quacken; the "fake doctor" sense grew out of "quacksalver," an old term for someone who loudly hawked bogus remedies.
Synonyms
View more →Related words
Frequently asked questions
What does “quack” mean?
The word “quack” means the harsh, honking sound a duck makes. In plain terms, either a duck's sound, or a fraud pretending to have medical qualifications.
How do you pronounce “quack”?
“Quack” is pronounced kwak (/kwæk/ in IPA).
How do you use “quack” in a sentence?
Here is “quack” used in a sentence: “The pond was noisy with the quack of ducks fighting over bread.”
What is another word for “quack”?
Words with a similar meaning to “quack” include snake-oil salesman, medicaster, quacksalver and pharmacopole.
What part of speech is “quack”?
Depending on how it is used, “quack” can be a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “quack” come from?
The word “quack” comes from Middle English. Originally imitative of the sound itself, from Middle English quacken; the "fake doctor" sense grew out of "quacksalver," an old term for someone who loudly hawked bogus remedies.
How many meanings does “quack” have?
“Quack” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: the harsh, honking sound a duck makes.
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