funk

UK: /ˈfʌŋk/ US: /fʌŋk/ ,(fungk)

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026

funk¹ /fʌŋk/   n. [countable]

1. a dejected mood;
   depression:
   been in a funk all day.

funk² /fʌŋk/   n. [uncountable]

1. Music and Dance music having a funky quality.
2. the state or quality of being funky.
3. a strong smell;
   stench.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

funk¹  (fungk), n. 

1. cowering fear;
   state of great fright or terror.
2. a dejected mood:
   He's been in a funk ever since she walked out on him.

v.t. 

3. to be afraid of.
4. to frighten.
5. to shrink from;
   try to shirk.

v.i. 

6. to shrink or quail in fear.

• early Dutch dialect, dialectal fonck
• perh. 1735–45

funk′er, n. 

funk²  (fungk), n. 

1. Music, Music and Dance music having a funky quality.
2. Music the state or quality of being funky.
3. Music a strong smell;
   stench.

• Vulgar Latin fūmicāre, alteration of Latin fūmigāre; see fumigate
• North French dialect, dialectal funquier, funquer give off smoke, Old North French fungier
• perh. 1615–25

Funk  (fŏŏngk, fungk), n. 

Cas•i•mir  (kaz′ə mēr′), 1884–1967, U.S. biochemist, born in Poland: discovered thiamine, the first vitamin isolated.

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

funk / fʌŋk/ noun

1. Also called: blue funk a state of nervousness, fear, or depression (esp in the phrase in a funk)
2. a coward

verb

1. to flinch from (responsibility) through fear
2. (tr; usually passive) to make afraid

Etymology: 18th Century: university slang, perhaps related to funk²

funk / fʌŋk/ noun

1. a type of polyrhythmic Black dance music with heavy syncopation

Etymology: 20th Century: back formation from funky¹