honker: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C2Informal, Slang
Quick answer
What does “honker” mean?
A person or thing that honks, especially a goose or a vehicle horn.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A person or thing that honks, especially a goose or a vehicle horn.
Slang for a large or prominent nose; something exceptionally large, impressive, or successful; also slang for a loud, unpleasant sound.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Both share the core 'one who honks' meaning. The slang 'large nose' is more common and widely understood in American English. The sense of 'something large/impressive' (a honker of a storm) is primarily American.
Connotations
In the UK, it is more likely to refer literally to a goose or car horn. In the US, the slang meanings are more prevalent in informal speech.
Frequency
Overall low frequency. More likely to be encountered in informal American contexts than in British ones.
Grammar
How to Use “honker” in a Sentence
[have/be] a honker[verb: blow/sound] a honkerVocabulary
Collocations
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Virtually unused.
Academic
Virtually unused except in literary analysis of slang.
Everyday
Informal, humorous reference to a nose or a loud sound.
Technical
Potential informal term in ornithology or automotive contexts for a sound-producing organ/device.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “honker”
- Using in formal writing.
- Using 'honker' to mean a handsome person (incorrect).
- Confusing it with 'hunker' (to squat).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is informal and can be mildly impolite if used to describe someone's nose without their consent. In friendly or humorous contexts, it's often seen as playful.
Yes, its original meaning is something that makes a honking sound, like a goose or a car horn. It can also slangily describe anything notably large ('a honker of a fish').
It is understood but far less common than in American English. Brits are more likely to use it literally for a goose or horn, not as slang for a nose.
It is primarily a noun.
A person or thing that honks, especially a goose or a vehicle horn.
Honker is usually informal, slang in register.
Honker: in British English it is pronounced /ˈhɒŋkə/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈhɑːŋkər/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “a real honker”
- “honker of a (something)”
- “blow your honker (nose)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
HONK + ER. Think of a goose (which HONKs) with a big nose (its beak). The '-er' suffix makes it 'the thing/person that honks'.
Conceptual Metaphor
NOSE IS A SOUND-MAKING INSTRUMENT / LARGE SIZE IS PROMINENT/LOUD
Practice
Quiz
In informal American slang, 'honker' most commonly refers to: