English Reference

Word

wanker

US/ˈwɑŋkɝ/

UK/wˈænkɐ/

Definition

n. a very rude word for a person who is stupid, annoying, or behaves badly. It is a very informal and offensive word that you should not use in polite conversation.

n. a highly offensive and vulgar term for a person perceived as foolish, arrogant, or socially inept. It is primarily used in British English and is considered extremely rude in most contexts.

Examples

“He is such a wanker for thinking he knows everything.”

“The player was called a wanker by the crowd after making a series of obvious mistakes during the final minutes of the game.”

Examples

simple

“He is such a wanker for thinking he knows everything.”

contextual

“The player was called a wanker by the crowd after making a series of obvious mistakes during the final minutes of the game.”

Real-World Examples

“One of my happiest memories of the funeral procession was a lone piper in the crowd playing the ancient lament, “Who’s that wanker in the crown?” “Don’t worry too much,” said Prince Charles.”
The Guardian · 23 Sept 2026
“We need acts like you to get rid of all these Oxbridge wankers like David Baddiel,” Lee remembers now.”
The Guardian · 30 Aug 2026

Etymology

From wank + -er.

UK 1890s. From stwanker, from stinker. Used at Felsted School, Essex.

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

This entry

Level
C2 · Proficiency
Frequency
Occasional
Updated

Scan code

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English Reference