Meaning & use
funk
Last updated
A genre of rhythmic, bass-driven music that blends soul, jazz, and R&B, or a state of depression, anxiety, or a strong unpleasant smell.
See it in a sentence
The band's new album leans heavily into classic 1970s funk.
He's been in a real funk ever since he lost his job.
A note on using this word
The musical genre, pioneered by artists like James Brown, actually took its name from the earlier, older slang sense of "funk" meaning a strong odor or a low mood.
Words with a similar meaning
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Words with an opposite meaning
Another way to use it
2. noun
A strong, unpleasant smell.
The locker room had a distinct funk after practice.
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