adj

wonky

WONG-kih

Wonky (adj) means not straight or properly aligned; wobbly or unstable. Example: “One leg of the table is shorter, so it sits wonky on the floor.”

adj

Not straight or properly aligned; wobbly or unstable.

"One leg of the table is shorter, so it sits wonky on the floor."

"His handwriting got wonky near the end of the exam."

Malfunctioning in an inconsistent, hard-to-pin-down way (of a device or system).

"My laptop's trackpad has gone wonky since the last update."

Full of technical detail or jargon; aimed at specialists.

"The policy paper got pretty wonky once it reached the tax formulas."

How to use wonky

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishSlightly off, wobbly, or glitchy — or, in a completely different sense, overly technical and detail-heavy.

Common mistake

The "off-kilter/glitchy" sense and the "overly technical" sense are unrelated in practice — context makes clear which one is meant.

Common pairings

a wonky wheel the wifi is being wonky a wonky policy debate

Word forms

wonkier comparative, wonkier comparative, wonkiest superlative, wonkiest superlative

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Fill the gap

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One leg of the table is shorter, so it sits _____ on the floor.

Etymology

From a British dialect word "wanky," itself from Old English wancol, "unstable, shaky."

Origin: Old English

Rhymes for wonky

honky

See all rhymes for wonky →

Frequently asked questions

What does “wonky” mean?

The word “wonky” means not straight or properly aligned; wobbly or unstable. In plain terms, slightly off, wobbly, or glitchy — or, in a completely different sense, overly technical and detail-heavy.

How do you pronounce “wonky”?

“Wonky” is pronounced WONG-kih (/ˈwɑŋ.ki/ in IPA).

How do you use “wonky” in a sentence?

Here is “wonky” used in a sentence: “One leg of the table is shorter, so it sits wonky on the floor.”

What part of speech is “wonky”?

“Wonky” is an adjective.

Where does the word “wonky” come from?

The word “wonky” comes from Old English. From a British dialect word "wanky," itself from Old English wancol, "unstable, shaky.".

How many meanings does “wonky” have?

“Wonky” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: not straight or properly aligned; wobbly or unstable.