Illustration of junk
- 3junk
1
a(1)
: old iron, glass, paper, or other waste that may be used again in some form
(2)
: secondhand, worn, or discarded articles
(3)
b
: something of poor quality : trash
c
: something of little meaning, worth, or significance
2
: pieces of old cable or cordage used especially to make gaskets, mats, swabs, or oakum
4
5
: baseball pitches that break or are off-speed (such as curveballs or changeups)
6
slang
: male genitalia
: any of various ships of Chinese waters with bluff lines, a high poop and overhanging stem, little or no keel, high pole masts, and a deep rudder
Examples of junk in a Sentence
Noun (1)
couldn't believe that such junk was chosen to be read for the book club
my car is junk—it spends more time in the shop than on the road
junk on the side of the road waiting for the trash collection
Verb
We decided to junk our old computer and buy a new one.
we'll have to junk this old car
Recent Examples on the Web
Sheila Kim, The Spruce, 29 Apr. 2026
The Indiana Street property is not exactly discreet, with trash, debris, and junk filling up the front lawn.
—Brad Hamilton, CBS News, 28 Apr. 2026
Hugh Son, CNBC, 24 Mar. 2026
During his first term, Trump was a rare Republican supporter of junking the rule.
—W. James Antle Iii, The Washington Examiner, 20 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for junk
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Noun
Bergman recommends keeping a small trash near the door to immediately toss junk before bringing it inside.
—Sheila Kim, The Spruce, 29 Apr. 2026
The Indiana Street property is not exactly discreet, with trash, debris, and junk filling up the front lawn.
—Brad Hamilton, CBS News, 28 Apr. 2026
Verb
Brendan McDermid | Reuters Moody’s Ratings on Monday downgraded a private credit fund run by KKR and Future Standard to junk amid rising bad loans and a string of weak earnings.
—Hugh Son, CNBC, 24 Mar. 2026
During his first term, Trump was a rare Republican supporter of junking the rule.
—W. James Antle Iii, The Washington Examiner, 20 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for junk
Video
Some Odd Words with ISMO: "Junk in the Trunk"
Comedian ISMO on what separates a boot from a trunk
Cite this Entry
“Junk.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/junk. Accessed 1 May. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
junk
2 of 3 verb
: to get rid of as worthless : scrap
junk
3 of 3 noun
: a ship of eastern Asia with a high stern and four-cornered sails
Etymology
Noun
Middle English jonke "piece of old or worn-out rope"
Noun
from Portuguese junco "a Chinese ship"
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Merriam-Webster unabridged
