English Explanatory Dictionary

wonk

English dictionary entry

Meanings

noun
  1. An overly studious person, particularly a student.
  2. A policy wonk or other intellectual expert.
verb
  1. To cram for exams.

Pronunciation

En-us-wonk.ogg

Word forms

wonk wonks wonking wonked

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.

Synonyms

nerd grind dork flabbergast flabagast flabaghast gink Nigel nosebleed

Derived words

policy wonk wonkfest wonkish wonk out
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