junky

US: ( jung′kē)

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

junk•y¹  ( jung′kē), adj., junk•i•er, junk•i•est. 

1. of the nature of junk;
   trashy.

• junk¹ + -y² 1945–50

junk•y²  ( jung′kē), n., pl. junk•ies. 

1. junkie.

• junk³ + -y²

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

junk¹ /dʒʌŋk/   n. [uncountable]

1. old, mostly useless material or objects, such as metal, paper, or rags:
   junk accumulating in the attic.
2. something thought of as worthless, meaningless, or useless;
   trash:
   junk found in a garage sale.

v. [~ + object]

3. to discard as no longer of use;
   scrap:
   They had to junk the car after thirteen years.

junk•y, adj., -i•er, -i•est. 

junk² /dʒʌŋk/   n. [countable]

1. Nautical, Naval Terms a seagoing ship used primarily in Chinese waters, having square sails, a high stern, and usually a flat bottom.

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

junk•ie or junk•y /ˈdʒʌŋki/   n. [countable] , pl. junk•ies. [Informal.]

1. Informal Terms a drug addict.
2. Informal Terms a person with a strong craving for something:
   a chocolate junkie.
3. Informal Terms a follower;
   devotee:
   a baseball junkie.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

junk¹  ( jungk), n. 

1. any old or discarded material, as metal, paper, or rags.
2. anything that is regarded as worthless, meaningless, or contemptible;
   trash.
3. old cable or cordage used when untwisted for making gaskets, swabs, oakum, etc.
4. Nautical, Naval Terms See salt junk. 
5. Sport [Baseball Slang.] relatively slow, unorthodox pitches that are deceptive to the batter in movement or pace, as knuckleballs or forkballs.

v.t. 

6. to cast aside as junk;
   discard as no longer of use;
   scrap.

adj. 

7. cheap, worthless, unwanted, or trashy.

• earlier jonke, of uncertain origin, originally 1480–90

Synonyms

• 1, 2. rubbish, litter, debris, refuse.

junk²  ( jungk), n. 

1. Nautical, Naval Terms a seagoing ship with a traditional Chinese design and used primarily in Chinese waters, having square sails spread by battens, a high stern, and usually a flat bottom.

• dialect, dialectal Chinese (Xiamen) chûn; compare Guangdong dialect, dialectal syùhn, Chinese chuán
• Malay jong, said to be
• Portuguese junco a kind of sailing vessel
• 1545–55

junk³  ( jungk), n. [Slang.]

1. Slang Terms narcotics, esp. heroin.

• perh. special use of junk¹ 1920–25

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

junk•ie  ( jung′kē), n. [Informal.]

1. Informal Terms a drug addict, esp. one addicted to heroin.
2. Informal Terms a person with an insatiable craving for something:
   a chocolate junkie.
3. Informal Terms an enthusiastic follower;
   fan;
   devotee:
   a baseball junkie.

Also, junky. 

• junk³ + -ie 1920–25

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

junkie, junky / ˈdʒʌŋkɪ/ noun (junkies)

1. a drug addict, esp one who injects heroin into himself or herself