# skunk

/ˈskəŋk/ (US) · /skˈʌŋk/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/skunk
Updated: 2026-08-27

## Senses

### 1. the animal

noun · CEFR B1 · American English

a small black-and-white animal from North America that produces a very strong, bad smell when it is scared.

For teachers: a North American mammal of the family Mephitidae, characterized by its black-and-white fur and the ability to eject a foul-smelling musk from its anal glands.

- The dog ran away quickly after it was sprayed by a skunk in the garden.
- Biologists noted that the skunk's distinctive white stripes serve as an aposematic signal to warn potential predators of its chemical defense mechanism.

### 2. a mean person

noun · CEFR B2 · Informal

a person who is mean, dishonest, or very unpleasant.

For teachers: a contemptible or despicable person; often used as a mild to moderate insult.

- I can't believe he lied to us; he is such a skunk.
- After he cheated his business partners out of their life savings, the local community treated him like a total skunk.

### 3. strong cannabis

noun · CEFR C1 · Slang

a type of very strong marijuana that has a powerful smell.

For teachers: a high-potency strain of cannabis, typically a hybrid of Cannabis sativa and Cannabis indica, noted for its pungent aroma.

- The police found a small amount of skunk in the suspect's car.
- Public health officials have expressed concern over the increasing availability of skunk due to its significantly higher THC concentrations compared to traditional varieties.

### 4. a total defeat

noun · CEFR C2 · American English · Informal

a game or match where one side fails to score any points at all.

For teachers: a shutout or overwhelming defeat in a game, particularly in North American sports or board games like cribbage.

- The final score was 15-0, which meant the losing team suffered a skunk.
- In their final match of the season, the home team managed a skunk, preventing the visitors from scoring a single point throughout the game.

### 5. to defeat completely

verb · CEFR C2 · American English · Slang

to beat an opponent so badly that they do not score any points.

For teachers: to defeat an opponent decisively, specifically by preventing them from scoring.

- We totally skunked them in the second half of the tournament.
- The underdog team surprised everyone when they skunked the reigning champions in the opening round of the playoffs.

## Examples

- A skunk sprayed our dog in the backyard last night.
- The hikers kept their distance after spotting a skunk foraging near the edge of the campsite.
- While the skunk is primarily known for its potent chemical defense, it plays a vital ecological role by controlling insect and rodent populations through its opportunistic diet.

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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.