Slangora

honky

(US, obsolete) A factory hand or general unskilled worker.

/hˈɔŋki/Documented since 1940s1940sBoomerhistoricalCurrent173 viewsLast reviewed Jun 29, 2026+ Add a definition
🗺️ Regional & Other
2 definitions
Community
Seen in the wild
10 citations · last seen May 2026

Etymology timeline

Born ~1946 · 1 year of recorded use
1946Born2026: 10 citationsToday, 2026

Seen in the wild

Definitions

#1·Apr 27, 2026

(US, obsolete) A factory hand or general unskilled worker.

Heard in the wild
  • “Well I’m a fellow honky, so it kinda felt like putting a hat on a hat but. I have unfortunately known a few Afrikaners in my life, and they were all reactionary dipshits, just like you”

    — Bluesky· May 2026
  • “Great song, at least as catchy and melodic as “Rocket Man” and “Honky Cat””

    — Bluesky· May 2026
  • ““Conversation Blues” is a rollicking honky tonk jam session that doubles as a conversation between Adam Gaffney and himself through the perspective of the ones who watched his addictions take over from the outside. glidemagazine.com/325320/song-...”

    — Bluesky· May 2026
  • “Wait are you genuinely upset about the word "honky"? What about Peckerwood or Cracker”

    — Bluesky· May 2026
  • “Well, honky, let me put that insult right back in front of you. Later”

    — Bluesky· May 2026
Was this helpful?

Comments

Offensive
#2·Apr 27, 2026

(US, Canada, pejorative, racial slur) A white (Caucasian) person.

Origin: Sense of “factory hand” attested from 1946. Compare hunky, bohunk. Most likely from Hungarian, Slav, eastern European; any white person, an African-American vernacular shortening of Hungarian. Another possible etymon is , a term frequently used in African languages to describe white men. As a term of racial abuse it was popularized by the Black Panther Party starting from 1967, who sought a rebuttal to nigger. Origin information sourced from Wiktionary contributors (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Heard in the wild
  • “🎶Melvin Hayes is a 70s honky, try huggy bear if you want to be funky. 🎶”

    — Bluesky· May 2026
  • “I had a chat with Bobby Lee about this (honky tonk pianos showing up in late sixties early seventies country rock and psych). I personally love it and think it's their hypnagogic version of vapourwave today....”

    — Bluesky· May 2026
  • “The airwaves continue. Now playing: 🎶 Rolling Stones - Honky Tonk Woman 🎶 📡 Lock onto the signal at outworldfleetradio.online #RollingStones #OutWorldFleetRadio 🌟 OWF MAIN PROGRAMMING 🌟 "Don't stop believing. Don't stop listening."”

    — Bluesky· May 2026
  • “India Ramey's 'Villain Era' ultimately thrives on its balance of grit and wit, blending outlaw country and honky tonk tradition with sharp, modern defiance into a record that feels both timeless and pointedly current. REVIEW: glidemagazine.com/325300/india...”

    — Bluesky· May 2026
  • “This week's Rainbow Ruckus features cowgays, power pop existential crises, honky-tonk trips to the friend zone, and country power pop anthems. The Cowgays Aaron Lee Tasjan Creekbed Carter Hogan Chris Housman Bryan Ruby rainbowrodeomag.com/...”

    — Bluesky· May 2026
Was this helpful?

Comments

Have a better definition?

Add your own interpretation of "honky".

Add definition

🗺️About Regional & Other slang

Regional slang from around the English-speaking world — British, Australian, Irish, Caribbean, Nigerian, Filipino, AAVE, and the hyphenated-English dialects that make the internet sound local.

See all Regional & Other slang on Slangora.

Tags

Other words near "honky" (H)

Browse all slang words starting with H.

Related terms

People also read

Semantically related