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Synonyms

hunky

1 American  
[huhng-kee] / ˈhʌŋ ki /

adjective

Slang.

  1. satisfactory; well; all right.

  2. even; leaving no balance.

hunky 2 American  
[huhng-kee] / ˈhʌŋ ki /

adjective

hunkier, hunkiest

  1. Slang. (of a male) handsome and having well-developed physique.

hunky 3 American  
[huhng-kee] / ˈhʌŋ ki /
Or hunkie

noun

(sometimes initial capital letter)

plural

hunkies

  1. a contemptuous term used to refer to a person of Hungarian or Slavic descent, especially an unskilled or semiskilled worker.

Etymology

Origin of hunky1

An Americanism dating back to 1860–65; from obsolete New York City slang term hunk, used especially by boys at play for home base, home (the goal); from Dutch honk “post, station, base, home” + -y 1 ( def. ); hunky-dory ( def. )

Origin of hunky2

First recorded in 1910–15; hunk + -y 1

Origin of hunky3

First recorded in 1905–10; (bo)hunk ( def. ) + -y 2 ( def. )

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

He’s both movie-star hunky and action-star engrossing, flitting between these two deceptively binary ends without breaking a sweat.

From Salon • Mar. 21, 2026

They’re making charming, hunky appearances at late-night talk shows and Hollywood awards ceremonies.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 22, 2026

At the end of the performance, the duo threw dozens of heart-shaped pillows into the audience, all containing the phrase "te amo", supposedly stitched by their hunky counterparts.

From BBC • Nov. 14, 2025

Though Nan is not in the market for a husband, she will, on the strength of her unselfconscious exuberance, ready wit and obvious goodness attract the interest of not one but two hunky aristocrats.

From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 7, 2023

He’s so awesomely gorgeous and manly and hunky.

From "Please Ignore Vera Dietz" by A.S. King

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.