noun
spunk
spuhngk
Spunk (noun) means Courage, spirit, or determination. Example: “It took real spunk for her to speak up in front of the board.”
noun
1
Courage, spirit, or determination.
"It took real spunk for her to speak up in front of the board."
"The rookie showed a lot of spunk in his first game."
2
Vulgar slang for semen.
"The word is mostly used in British slang."
How to use spunk
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishMostly used to mean feisty courage or determination; also a vulgar slang term.
When to use it
The "courage" sense is informal but not rude; the anatomical sense is vulgar slang, mainly British.
Common pairings
plenty of spunk
show some spunk
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Word forms
- Plural
- spunks
- Third person singular
- spunks
- Past tense
- spunked
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
It took real _____ for her to speak up in front of the board.
Etymology
From a 1500s blend of "spark" and an old word "funk" meaning spark or tinder.
Class of 1500
spunk joined the language around 1500.
See the full Class of 1500 →
Related words
Rhymes for spunk
See all rhymes for spunk →Frequently asked questions
What does “spunk” mean?
The word “spunk” means courage, spirit, or determination. In plain terms, mostly used to mean feisty courage or determination; also a vulgar slang term.
How do you pronounce “spunk”?
“Spunk” is pronounced spuhngk (/spʌŋk/ in IPA).
How do you use “spunk” in a sentence?
Here is “spunk” used in a sentence: “It took real spunk for her to speak up in front of the board.”
What part of speech is “spunk”?
“Spunk” is a noun.
Where does the word “spunk” come from?
The word “spunk” dates back to around 1500. From a 1500s blend of "spark" and an old word "funk" meaning spark or tinder.
How many meanings does “spunk” have?
“Spunk” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: courage, spirit, or determination.
