A word with a sharp transatlantic split: in American English, spunky means spirited, plucky, or full of guts — a compliment for someone feisty and determined. In British English, the word has vulgar connotations relating to semen ('spunk'), making it a term that frequently causes embarrassment when Americans use it approvingly to British ears.
Her spunky attitude won over the interview panel immediately.
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(US) Spirited or plucky.
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(UK, slang) Pertaining to or like spunk (semen).
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(UK, slang) Stained with semen.
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