funkier; funkiest
1
US : having an offensive odor : foul
a funky smell
2
music : having the style and feeling of older African American music (such as blues or gospel) or of funk
especially : characterized by rhythmic elements similar to those of funk
a funky beat
3
informal
a
: odd or quaint in appearance or feeling
a funky little restaurant
b
: unconventionally stylish : hip
funky clothes
… lighting gives the … shops and streets a funky prettiness …Pauline Kael
funkily adverb
funkiness noun

funky

2 of 2

adjective (2)

: being in a funk : panicky

Examples of funky in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Adjective
The funky, beige Ziggurat in Laguna Niguel is being auctioned this summer, the second attempt to sell the campus after a first effort failed last April. Samantha Gowen, Orange County Register, 8 Mar. 2024 The clip finds Black — dressed in a black and white tuxedo — pulling off some impressive high front kicks on the carpet as he and Gass strut and dance to the cover’s funky, fat-bottomed riff, with Black dispatching his partner in rock at one point with a series of pantomimed punches and foot snaps. Gil Kaufman, Billboard, 8 Mar. 2024 Stretching from the bay to the gulf, Pine Avenue is the perfect place to shop funky boutiques, dine at local cafes, and get a feel for that ultimate island lifestyle. Southern Living Editors, Southern Living, 4 Mar. 2024 After a perfect day in Tulum, packed with leisure, adventure, or both, the cherry on top will be grabbing a drink at Gitano and relishing in its funky jungle atmosphere. Claudia Fisher, Travel + Leisure, 2 Mar. 2024 The cookbook author was more than happy with her pair’s funky design. Antonia Debianchi, Peoplemag, 1 Mar. 2024 But improper storage could result in funky smells at best and serious damage at worst, leaving you to re-purchase pricey winter staples come next year. Abby Ferguson, Popular Science, 28 Feb. 2024 The Edgbaston Ashes classic was one that was in Stokes's hands before the funky declaration late on day one. Tim Ellis, Forbes, 26 Feb. 2024 The funky contraptions look more like recumbent bikes than your standard bicycle with chairs as opposed to bicycle seats, all pieced together into a quad. Kylie Martin, Detroit Free Press, 26 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'funky.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Adjective (1)

funk offensive odor

First Known Use

Adjective (1)

circa 1680, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adjective (2)

1826, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of funky was circa 1680

Dictionary Entries Near funky

Cite this Entry

“Funky.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/funky. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

funky

adjective
ˈfəŋ-kē
1
: having a bad smell
2
: down-to-earth in style and feeling
especially : having the style and feeling of funk
a funky beat
3
a
: odd in appearance or feeling
b
: lacking taste or style
wearing a funky old hat
c
: stylish in an untypical way : hip sense 1

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