What does kook mean?
A kook is an informal name for a person considered strange, eccentric, crazy, or irrational. The term is often used as a dismissive insult, particularly by someone who regards another person's beliefs or behavior as absurd, although it can also appear in more lighthearted contexts. It is especially associated with North American and Australian English and is generally avoided in formal or sensitive contexts because it can demean the person targeted. Pronounced like the word cook, kook is memorable as both slang and an insult: it suggests not merely unusual tastes, but a person whose conduct or ideas appear completely out of touch with ordinary expectations. The related adjective kooky is also informal and is generally milder than the noun.
nounAn informal, potentially offensive term for a person regarded as strange, eccentric, or mentally unstable. It is often used as an insult and can be especially insulting when directed at someone perceived as irrational or crazy.
- A person regarded as strange, eccentric, or crazy.
"He was called a kook for insisting that the moon landing had been staged."
"Some passersby thought the man was a kook because he was speaking to the traffic lights."
"That proposal sounded like the work of a kook, but it later proved surprisingly effective."
Used mainly in the plural when referring collectively to people regarded as eccentric or irrational.
"The film portrays a group of kooks who leave ordinary society behind."
This slang insult turns an ordinary kitchen worker into a symbol of eccentricity: calling someone a kook says that their ideas or behavior seem wildly irrational.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does kook come from?
The precise origin of kook is uncertain, and the word is not known to derive from a well-established English root. It was in use by the late nineteenth century as a derogatory term for an eccentric or insane person. Its continued association with the similar-sounding cook is probably reinforced by the word's modern use as an insult, but that phonetic resemblance is not a securely established etymological relationship.
Related word forms
How kook is actually used
This is informal and usually derogatory. It may be considered offensive, especially when used to label someone as mentally unstable, and is more common in North American and Australian speech than in British English.
Easily confused with kook
A kook is an eccentric or supposedly irrational person, whereas a cook is someone who prepares food or, informally, someone who handles a situation skillfully.