# wank

> English word · Verb · IPA /wæŋk/ · frequency rank #31,403

## Definitions
1. To masturbate.
2. To argue in an inappropriate manner or about pretentious or insubstantial matters; to engage in wank.

## Etymology
Origin unknown. First known use as a verb is 1905, as a noun 1948. Perhaps compare regional slang term wang, whang (“to whack or beat”). Compare Dutch wanken (“to move back and forth; move with the hands”).

## Easily confused with
- **was** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/wank-vs-was)
- **way** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/wank-vs-way)
- **war** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/wank-vs-war)
- **win** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/wank-vs-win)
- **won** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/wank-vs-won)
- **wax** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/wank-vs-wax)
- **wen** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/wank-vs-wen)
- **wat** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/wank-vs-wat)
- **wok** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/wank-vs-wok)
- **WAP** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/wank-vs-wap)
- **WAV** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/wank-vs-wav)
- **want** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/wank-vs-want)
- **work** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/wank-vs-work)
- **week** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/wank-vs-week)
- **went** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/wank-vs-went)
- **ways** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/wank-vs-ways)
- **wind** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/wank-vs-wind)
- **wine** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/wank-vs-wine)
- **warm** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/wank-vs-warm)
- **wins** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/wank-vs-wins)

## Common misspellings (6)
`awnk`, `wakn`, `wankk`, `wannk`, `wnak`, `wwank`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/wank