wonk

English

Etymology

American English student slang 1954; perhaps navy slang before that. Expert sense popularized in the Clinton administration, 1993.

Origin uncertain, possibly from wonky (“shaky, unreliable”) or wank, wanker [1], or simply expressive.

Noun

wonk (plural wonks)

1. (derogatory) An overly studious person, particularly student; a nerd.
2. (by extension) A policy wonk or other intellectual expert.

Derived terms

• policy wonk
• wonkfest

References

• “wonk” in the Online Etymology Dictionary, Douglas Harper, 2001
• World Wide Words
• A.Word.A.Day--wonk

Anagrams

• know