knack

[ nak ]

noun

1. a special skill, talent, or aptitude:

   He had a knack for saying the right thing.

   Synonyms: aptness, dexterity, facility

2. a clever or adroit way of doing something.
3. a trick or ruse.
4. a sharp, cracking sound.
5. Archaic. a knickknack; trinket.

knack

/ næk /

noun

1. a skilful, ingenious, or resourceful way of doing something
2. a particular talent or aptitude, esp an intuitive one

Word History and Origins

Origin of knack¹

1325–75; Middle English: trick; perhaps same word as knak sharp-sounding blow, rap, cracking noise (imitative)

Word History and Origins

Origin of knack¹

C14: probably variant of knak sharp knock, rap, of imitative origin

Example Sentences

Lucius has a knack for showmanship, with moves he stole from Maximus, but he’s more feral, going tooth-to-tooth with a nasty baboon in a podunk ring outside the city.

From Los Angeles Times

He has a knack for spinning a story.

From Science Magazine

In the 1990s and 2000s, the sisters had a knack for building community at shows and online, with Tegan in particular feeling a responsibility to their fans.

From New York Times

This year’s batch came out Thursday as part of the Topps Chrome Update and includes Dodgers outfielder Andy Pages and pitchers Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Ricky Vanasco and Landon Knack.

From Los Angeles Times

Somehow, boxing has a knack of duping the public.

From BBC

Related Words

• aptitude
• dexterity
• flair
• genius
• ingenuity
• propensity
• quickness
• savvy
• skill