Definition of WONK

wonk

Plural: wonks

Noun

  • A person who is excessively studious or works too hard.
  • an insignificant student who is ridiculed as being affected or boringly studious
  • An overly studious person, particularly a student.
  • A policy wonk or other intellectual expert.

Verb

  • To cram for exams.

Examples

  • The Scrabble WONK knew every two-letter word and every possible hook.

Origin / 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.

Scrabble Score: 11

wonk: valid Scrabble (US) TWL Word
wonk: valid Scrabble Word in Merriam-Webster MW Dictionary
wonk: valid Scrabble Word in International Collins CSW Dictionary

Words With Friends Score: 12

wonk: valid Words With Friends Word