dink: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Informal/Slang (DINK lifestyle), Technical (sports)
Quick answer
What does “dink” mean?
To hit a ball delicately, especially in racquet sports like tennis or table tennis, with a light, dropping shot.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
To hit a ball delicately, especially in racquet sports like tennis or table tennis, with a light, dropping shot.
A light, skillful shot in sports; also used as a slang term for a childless couple by choice (short for 'Double Income, No Kids'), and as an ethnic slur in some contexts.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The sports term is common in both. 'DINK' (Double Income, No Kids) as a demographic term originated in and is more established in American socio-economic discourse. The offensive slur is historically used in both but is widely recognized as unacceptable.
Connotations
In sports: neutral/technical. As DINK: often carries connotations of affluence, lifestyle choice, and sometimes social critique. As a slur: highly offensive and derogatory.
Frequency
The sports term is low-frequency but stable in its niche. The demographic term 'DINK' is moderate frequency in business/popular sociology contexts. The offensive term is very low frequency in public discourse due to its nature.
Grammar
How to Use “dink” in a Sentence
to dink (something) over (the net)to be a DINK (couple)Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “dink” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- He cleverly dinked the ball over the advancing goalkeeper.
- Try to dink it just over the net.
American English
- She dinked a perfect shot over the defender's head.
- He dinked the serve for an ace.
adjective
British English
- They lead a comfortable dink lifestyle in the city.
- The dink shot won him the point.
American English
- As a DINK couple, they have more disposable income.
- That was a classic dink move in pickleball.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Used in marketing/demographics to target affluent couples without children (e.g., 'the DINK segment').
Academic
Used in sociology/population studies to describe household types.
Everyday
Used in sports commentary; also informally to describe a couple's lifestyle.
Technical
Precise term in racquet sports for a specific soft, dropping shot.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “dink”
- Using 'dink' in formal writing without defining the acronym. Confusing the sports 'dink' with a 'lob' (which goes higher). Using the offensive meaning unknowingly.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is informal or technical. The sports term is technical within its sport. The 'DINK' acronym is informal but used in formal demographics/sociology contexts once defined.
They are very similar. A 'dink' often implies an even softer, more delicate shot, sometimes played from a defensive position, while a 'drop shot' is a tactical shot intended to just clear the net and drop short.
Yes, it has been used as a derogatory ethnic slur. It is essential to be aware of context and avoid any usage that could be interpreted as this slur. The sports and demographic meanings are not offensive.
It is pronounced as a single syllable, /dɪŋk/, rhyming with 'ink' or 'think', not as individual letters D-I-N-K.
To hit a ball delicately, especially in racquet sports like tennis or table tennis, with a light, dropping shot.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “DINK lifestyle”
- “dink it over the net”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of the sound a light ping-pong ball makes when 'dinked' over the net: 'dink'.
Conceptual Metaphor
LIGHTNESS IS SKILL/PRECISION (sports); AFFLUENCE IS FREEDOM FROM OBLIGATION (DINK).
Practice
Quiz
In a socio-economic context, what does 'DINK' primarily refer to?