slang, disparaging
: a person and especially a woman of low or sleazy character
: a rhythmic dance performed by swinging the arms while bending the knees especially to reggae or ska
also
: the music for this dance
skanked; skanking; skanks
Examples of skank in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
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
Bethy Squires, Vulture, 10 Oct. 2025
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
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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
So get ready to skank your butt off in Vegas.
—Bethy Squires, Vulture, 10 Oct. 2025
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
Cite this Entry
“Skank.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/skank. Accessed 4 Nov. 2025.
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