spunk
Americannoun
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pluck; spirit; mettle.
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touchwood, tinder, or punk.
noun
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informal courage or spirit
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a slang word for semen
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touchwood or tinder, esp originally made from various spongy types of fungus
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informal a person, esp male, who is sexually attractive
Usage
The second sense of this word was formerly considered to be taboo, and it was labelled as such in previous editions of Collins English Dictionary . However, it has now become acceptable in speech, although some older or more conservative people may object to its use
Other Word Forms
- spunkily adverb
- spunkless adjective
- spunky adjective
Etymology
Origin of spunk
1530–40; blend of spark 1 and obsolete funk spark, touchwood (cognate with Dutch vonk, German Funke )
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Showing plenty of spunk while scoring the game’s first 13 points, the new lineup vaulted the No. 19 Bruins to a 79-48 victory at Pauley Pavilion.
From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 19, 2025
Lorelai’s spunk is presented as a secret to her success: Having been a teen mom, she drips with “up by your bootstraps” energy.
From Slate • Apr. 14, 2025
“Coastal Funk” brings together work by Robert Arneson, one of funk’s godfathers, and contemporary artists keeping the spunk of funk alive.
From Seattle Times • Apr. 24, 2024
Indeed, Kansara plays Ria with spunk and a youthful vigor that makes it hard not to reminisce on one's own adolescent years.
From Salon • Apr. 29, 2023
Someone with spunk, someone who lets nothing stop her from reaching her dreams.
From "The Queen of Water" by Laura Resau
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.