pong

American  

[pong, pawng] / pɒŋ, pɔŋ /

noun

1. an unpleasant smell; stink.

---

verb (used without object)

1. to have a disagreeable smell; stink.

pong British  

/ pɒŋ /

noun

1. a disagreeable or offensive smell; stink

---

verb

1. (intr) to give off an unpleasant smell; stink

Other Word Forms

• pongy
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of pong

First recorded in 1915–20; of obscure origin

Example Sentences

“He seems to have been called by every honorary title imaginable,” noted one biographer—“the country’s leading novelist, philosopher, educator, designer, agricultural experimenter, architect, industrial management specialist, general and ping pong trainer.”

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 11, 2026

Chalamet’s marketing deck is full of outrageous, sky-high ideas, like an orange blimp that drops ping pong balls as it sails over Los Angeles.

From Salon • Dec. 25, 2025

When you weigh his selfish desires against any other character’s needs, Marty is as hollow as a ping pong ball.

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 23, 2025

Conservative peer Lord Sharpe, the shadow business and trade minister, had tabled an amendment to the Employment Rights Bill during its latest stage of parliamentary ping pong in the House of Lords.

From BBC • Dec. 16, 2025

I’ll hear the pong of tennis balls, the bark of goldens, the echo of my breath in a snorkel.

From "We Were Liars" by E. Lockhart