English Reference

Word

funky

US/ˈfəŋki/

UK/fˈʌŋki/

Definitions

01music style

B2 · Music

adj. having a strong, rhythmic beat that makes you want to dance.

adj. relating to or reminiscent of funk music, characterized by a strong rhythmic groove and prominent bass lines.

“The band played a funky bass line that got everyone on the dance floor.”

“The producer added a funky drum loop to the track to give it more energy and a distinct seventies feel.”

Synonyms

02cool and unusual

B2

adj. stylish in a way that is unusual, colorful, or creative.

adj. fashionable in an unconventional, eccentric, or offbeat manner.

“She wore a funky pair of glasses with bright purple frames.”

“The boutique is famous for its funky interior design, featuring neon lights and vintage furniture from various decades.”

Informal

03smelling bad

B2

adj. having a strong and unpleasant smell.

adj. having a foul, stale, or offensive odour, often associated with sweat or decay.

“The gym bag started to smell a bit funky after he left it in the car.”

“The milk in the fridge had a funky scent, so I decided it was safer to throw it away.”

Informal · Slang

Synonyms

Antonyms

04strange or wrong

C1

adj. not working correctly or feeling a bit strange.

adj. functioning improperly or appearing suspicious; not quite right in quality or state.

“My computer is acting funky today and keeps restarting for no reason.”

“The engine started making a funky noise during the long drive, which made me worry about the transmission.”

Informal · American English

Synonyms

Antonyms

Etymology

From funk + -y.

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Word family

funkNounfunkyAdjective

Domain

Music

This entry

Level
B2 · Upper Intermediate
Frequency
Frequent
Updated

Scan code

englishreference.com/q/funky

English Reference