wonky

UK: /ˈwɒŋki/ US: (wong′kē)

Inflections of 'wonky' (adj):

wonkier

adj comparative

wonkiest

adj superlative

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

won•ky  (wong′kē), adj., -ki•er, -ki•est. 

1. British Terms
   • shaky, groggy, or unsteady.
   • unreliable;
     not trustworthy.
2. Slang Terms stupid;
   boring;
   unattractive.

• 1920–25; perh. variant of dialect, dialectal wanky, equivalent. to wank(le) (Middle English wankel, Old English wancol; see wench) + -y¹; def. 1 probably represents a different word (see wonk)

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

wonky / ˈwɒŋkɪ/ adjective ( -kier, -kiest)

1. shaky or unsteady
2. not in correct alignment; askew
3. liable to break down or develop a fault

Etymology: 20th Century: variant of dialect wanky, from Old English wancol