Funkydefinition Meaning Merriam Webster

Julian Sterling

-May 10, 2026, 3:47 AM

funky 1 Americanadjective adjective - Jazz. having an earthy, blues-based quality or character. - having an offensive smell; evil-smelling; foul. adjective - (of music) passionate, soulful; of or pertaining to funk - authentic; earthy - stylish and exciting; cool funky jeans adjective Other Word Forms Etymology Origin of funky1 First recorded in 1830–40; funk 1 + -y 1 Origin of funky2 Explanation Something that's funky has a strong musical rhythm or beat, and a deep bluesy sound.

You might practice some funky bass lines before auditioning for your school's jazz band. Funky tunes have some of the spirit of the 1960s-era music genre called funk, a branch of R&B that's influenced by soul and jazz music. Rhythm is so important in funky music that the drums and bass are emphasized, melody less so. Based on this cool music, funky also means "stylish" or "hip:" "Mom, those pants are totally funky." The word's original meaning, however, was "stinky," specifically when discussing the smell of aged cheese.

Vocabulary lists containing funky A Good Kind of Trouble Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide! With the Fire on High Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!

Words for Cheese Writers Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time! 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. That’s the funky mood in Boston, where the Red Sox are once again sideways and fizzling. From The Wall Street Journal • Apr.

27, 2026 He was in our world but not of it, sent down to carry revelations of new ways to be funky, freaky and free. From Salon • Apr. 21, 2026 Superbloom's lead single I Could Get Used To This saw Ware's new era blossom over flourishing panpipes and funky guitar riffs. From BBC • Apr. 15, 2026 However, there are several pops of color throughout the home, including a large pink couch in one of the living areas, as well as funky yellow-and-green tile in a bathroom.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 2, 2026 He likes colors—he calls them “hues”—so he might wear lavender and chartreuse together, partly for fashion, but I swear he dresses funky so we can have new vocabulary words. From "Blended" by Sharon M. Draper 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.

Funkydefinition Meaning Merriam Webster

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