English Reference
Noun

spanking

n. countable
B2 Upper Intermediate US /ˈspæŋkɪŋ/ UK /spˈæŋkɪŋ/ spank·ing UK spelling spankings Nautical

n.a punishment where someone is hit on their bottom with a flat hand. It is usually used when talking about how parents discipline children.

n.the act of striking the buttocks with the open hand as a form of corporal punishment. Often discussed in the context of child-rearing or historical disciplinary practices.


SIMPLE

The child received a spanking for breaking the window.

CONTEXTUAL

Many modern psychologists advise against spanking as a method of discipline, suggesting positive reinforcement instead.

COMPLEX

The debate over the legality of spanking continues to evolve, with several countries passing legislation to ban corporal punishment in the home entirely.

Usage

Commonly used with the verbs 'give' or 'get'.

Once the streets of Buñol are cleaned of all the tomatoes, the town looks brand spanking new.

The Local· 28 Aug 2019

Etymology 1

From spank (“to move energetically”) + -ing.

Etymology 2

From spank (“to punish by swatting”) + -ing (participial suffix) and -ing (gerundial suffix).

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

This entry
Level B2 · Upper Intermediate
Frequency Frequent
Updated