1. Rock music with deliberately offensive lyrics expressing anger and social alienation; in part a reaction against progressive rock
   "The Sex Pistols' 'Anarchy in the UK' epitomizes the punk rock ethos";
   - punk rock
    
2. A teenager or young adult who is a performer (or enthusiast) of punk rock and a member of the punk youth subculture
   "The punk rocker sported a mohawk and multiple piercings";
   - punk rocker
    
3. [N. Amer, informal] An aggressive and violent young criminal
   "The punk was arrested for vandalizing cars in the neighbourhood";
   - hood [slang], hoodlum, goon [informal], thug, tough [informal], toughie [informal], strong-armer
    
4. [N. Amer] Material for starting a fire
   "Dry leaves and small twigs make excellent punk for starting a campfire";
   - kindling, tinder, touchwood [archaic], spunk [N. Amer, informal]
    
5. [N. Amer] Substance that smolders when ignited; used to light fuses (especially fireworks)
   "The pyrotechnician carefully lit the punk to ignite the fireworks display"

1. [N. Amer, informal] Of very poor quality
   "That was a punk performance by the usually stellar athlete";
   - bum [informal], cheap, cheesy [informal], chintzy [N. Amer, informal], crummy [informal], tinny [archaic], tacky [informal], crumby [informal]
    
2. Relating to, similar to, or with the character of, punk rock
   "The band's punk attitude appealed to rebellious teenagers";
   - punky

Derived forms: punks

See also: gimcrack, inferior, tacky [informal], tawdry

Type of: adolescent, crim [Brit, informal], criminal, crook [informal], felon, igniter, ignitor, lighter, malefactor [formal], outlaw, R&R, R'n'R [non-standard], rock, rock and roll, rock music, rock 'n' roll, rock-and-roll, rock'n'roll, stripling [archaic], teen, teenager

Part of: punks

Encyclopedia: Punk, Peter