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Wonk: meaning, definitions and examples

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wonk

 

[ wษ’ล‹k ]

Noun
Context #1 | Noun

political expert

A 'wonk' is an individual who has a deep interest and knowledge about a particular subject, often one that is political or governmental in nature. These individuals tend to focus intensely on details and intricacies, making them highly informed and skilled in their area of expertise. The term can often carry a connotation of being obsessively knowledgeable, sometimes to the point of being seen as overly academic or pedantic. Therefore, wonks are frequently involved in policy discussions, research, or advocacy related to their field.

Synonyms

aficionado, buff, expert, nerd, specialist

Examples of usage

  • The policy wonks gathered to discuss new healthcare reforms.
  • She was known as a budget wonk among her peers.
  • They often consulted with wonks for detailed reports.
  • The election was heavily influenced by the insights of political wonks.

Translations

Translations of the word "wonk" in other languages:

๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡น especialista

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ณ เคตเคฟเคถเฅ‡เคทเคœเฅเคž

๐Ÿ‡ฉ๐Ÿ‡ช Spezialist

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ฉ ahli

๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ฆ ัะฟะตั†ั–ะฐะปั–ัั‚

๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡ฑ specjalista

๐Ÿ‡ฏ๐Ÿ‡ต ๅฐ‚้–€ๅฎถ

๐Ÿ‡ซ๐Ÿ‡ท spรฉcialiste

๐Ÿ‡ช๐Ÿ‡ธ especialista

๐Ÿ‡น๐Ÿ‡ท uzman

๐Ÿ‡ฐ๐Ÿ‡ท ์ „๋ฌธ๊ฐ€

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฆ ุฎุจูŠุฑ

๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ฟ odbornรญk

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฐ odbornรญk

๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ณ ไธ“ๅฎถ

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฎ strokovnjak

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ธ sรฉrfrรฆรฐingur

๐Ÿ‡ฐ๐Ÿ‡ฟ ะผะฐะผะฐะฝ

๐Ÿ‡ฌ๐Ÿ‡ช แƒกแƒžแƒ”แƒชแƒ˜แƒแƒšแƒ˜แƒกแƒขแƒ˜

๐Ÿ‡ฆ๐Ÿ‡ฟ mรผtษ™xษ™ssis

๐Ÿ‡ฒ๐Ÿ‡ฝ especialista

Etymology

The term 'wonk' is believed to have originated in the United States during the 1960s, likely derived from the 1930s' slang term 'wonk-wonk,' a term used by students at the Phillips Academy in Andover, Massachusetts. The word was initially associated with a keen intellect but has evolved over time to denote someone who is overly concerned with the complexities of policy and governance. 'Wonk' has grown in popularity, especially within political discussions, and is now commonly utilized in media and academic contexts. As the political landscape became increasingly complicated, the need for individuals who thoroughly understood specific issues rose, allowing the term to gain traction in everyday language.

Word Frequency Rank

At position #40,955, this word is among the less frequently used terms in English. While interesting to know, it's not crucial for most English learners unless needed for specific purposes.