English

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA^(key): /ˈwɔːŋ.kɪ/
• (US) enPR: wŏngʹkē, IPA^(key): /ˈwɑŋ.ki/, /ˈwɔŋ.ki/
• Rhymes: -ɒŋki

Adjective

wonky ‎(comparative wonkier, superlative wonkiest)

1. Lopsided, misaligned or off-centre.
2. (chiefly Britain, Australia, New Zealand) Feeble, shaky or rickety.
3. (computing, especially Usenet) Suffering from intermittent bugs; broken.
4. Generally incorrect.

Synonyms

• (lopsided, misaligned): awry, lonkie, skew-whiff

Derived terms

• wonky hole

Etymology 2

wonk + -y

Adjective

wonky ‎(comparative wonkier, superlative wonkiest)

1. Technically worded, in the style of jargon.
   • 2009, Jesse Dale Holcomb, Faith, Science and Trust: Climate Change Framing Effects and Conservative Protestant Opinion

     Climate change is an issue that might lend itself more easily to thematic framing in the news, due to the often highly technical and wonky language required to explain it.

   • 2010, Michael Maslansky, Scott West, Gary DeMoss, David Saylor, The Language of Trust: Selling Ideas in a World of Skeptics

     McCain's message, while similar in content and equally as valid, is lost in the minutiae of “'high-risk' pools” and wonky jargon.

Anagrams

• y'know