skank

1 of 4

noun (1)

ˈskaŋk 

slang, disparaging

: a person and especially a woman of low or sleazy character

skank

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noun (2)

: a rhythmic dance performed by swinging the arms while bending the knees especially to reggae or ska

also : the music for this dance

skank

3 of 4

verb (1)

skanked; skanking; skanks

intransitive verb

: to dance the skank

skank

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verb (2)

skanked; skanking; skanks

transitive verb

slang

: to bungle (a stroke) in golf

Examples of skank in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Reggae was a slow skank, feeling the earth between your toes; ska was Saturday-night show-out and exuberance—lean, jangled, calisthenic. —Ian Penman, Harper's Magazine, 19 Feb. 2025

And the song’s reggae middle-eight skanks harder than on the one Lennon settled on in ’73. —Kory Grow, Rolling Stone, 12 July 2024

Plane gets lucky by having a guy whose main goal is to be a skank. —Jason P. Frank, Vulture, 29 Mar. 2024

Verb

Embellished with swirling, spikey synths this dub drenched instrumental highlights Family Man’s booming bassline that snakes its way around skanking guitars, bubbling keys and Fela Kuti-esque horns. —Patricia Meschino, Rolling Stone, 4 Feb. 2024

The pit in front of the stage transforms into a whirl of boots skanking to the beat and harmonic horns. —Heather Augustyn, Spin, 10 Oct. 2023

Flurries of flags from various countries were spotted in the mass of skanking Latinos, during their 45-minute set, including those representing Mexico, Puerto Rico and the band’s home country, Argentina. —August Brown, Los Angeles Times, 16 Apr. 2023

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

origin unknown

Noun (2)

Jamaican English

Verb (2)

probably alteration of shank entry 2

First Known Use

Noun (1)

1964, in the meaning defined above

Noun (2)

1974, in the meaning defined above

Verb (1)

1973, in the meaning defined above

Verb (2)

1990, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for skank

• banc
• bank
• blank
• clank
• crank
• dank
• drank
• flank
• franc
• hank
• lank
• plank