# junk

/ˈdʒəŋk/ (US) · /dʒˈʌŋk/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/junk
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. worthless items

noun · CEFR B1 · Informal

old things that are broken or no longer useful.

For teachers: discarded or unwanted items of little to no value. Uncountable in this sense.

- We spent the whole weekend clearing all the old junk out of the garage.
- The attic was filled with decades of accumulated junk, ranging from rusted garden tools to broken electronic components that were beyond repair.

### 2. Chinese ship

noun · CEFR B2

a traditional Chinese sailing ship with a flat bottom.

For teachers: a classic Chinese sailing vessel featuring a flat bottom and prominent battened sails.

- The tourists took a ride on a traditional red-sailed junk in the harbour.
- Historically, the junk was a highly efficient design for maritime trade across the South China Sea, capable of carrying significant cargo over long distances.

### 3. illegal drugs

noun · CEFR C1 · Slang

a slang word for illegal drugs, especially heroin.

For teachers: a slang term for narcotic drugs, specifically heroin.

- The documentary showed the tragic effect that junk had on the local community.
- Undercover officers were focused on identifying the primary suppliers of junk in the city's downtown district.

### 4. nonsense

noun · CEFR B2 · Informal

ideas or talk that are not true or make no sense.

For teachers: information, ideas, or speech considered to be worthless or nonsensical.

- Don't believe what he says; it's all just a load of junk.
- The article was dismissed by experts as scientific junk, lacking any rigorous data or peer-reviewed evidence to support its claims.

### 5. to throw away

verb · CEFR B2 · Informal

to get rid of something because it is old or broken.

For teachers: to discard or scrap something as being no longer useful or functional.

- The car was so badly damaged in the accident that they had to junk it.
- After the inspection revealed extensive structural rot, the owner decided it was more cost-effective to junk the old boat than to attempt repairs.

## Examples

- I need to clear all this junk out of the garage.
- The basement was filled with old newspapers, broken toys, and other junk that had gathered over the decades.
- While one person might see a pile of rusted metal as mere junk, a creative sculptor often finds the raw materials for a masterpiece within the scrap.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.