Definitions

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

  • noun A person, especially a man, who masturbates.
  • noun A foolish or detestable person.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • noun A person who wanks.
  • noun UK, Australia, New Zealand, slang, pejorative An idiot, a stupid, annoying or ineffectual person.
  • noun UK, Australia, New Zealand, slang, pejorative Someone who shows off too much, a poser or poseur; someone who is overly self-satisfied.
  • noun UK, Australia, New Zealand, slang, humorous, vulgar A very informal address used between friends.

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • noun terms of abuse for a masturbator

Etymologies

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

From wank +‎ -er.

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Examples

  • British, and the term wanker is meaningless british slang.

    Alex Jones' Prison Planet.com 2009

  • British, and the term wanker is meaningless british slang.

    Alex Jones' Prison Planet.com 2009

  • British, and the term wanker is meaningless british slang.

    Alex Jones' Prison Planet.com 2009

  • This wanker is a former German cabinet minister and parliamentary secretary in Germany's defence ministry. 19% of Germans believe the Yanks were responsible for 9/11, which may explain the success of this ridiculous tome - and also the fact that conspirozoids from around the world have chosen Berlin as the site for their big conference on September 7.

    Daimnation!: First France, now Germany 2003

  • I'd rather call him/her just plain "wanker," with "eejit" a close second.

    It's My Party 2007

  • Webb addresses two of these areas, namely the blue collar whites, the beer track in wanker, and foreign policy credentials.

    Webb for VP xtra 2008

  • Webb addresses two of these areas, namely the blue collar whites, the beer track in wanker, and foreign policy credentials.

    Archive 2008-04-01 xtra 2008

  • Being a wanker, is not just about jerking off, it is about making love with oneself, and that is all the love you have.

    Think Progress » Coulter on 9/11 Widows: ‘I Have Never Seen People Enjoying their Husbands’ Death So Much’ 2006

  • Start of the second gig, during the first song's tender, tentative intro, the audience quiet and attentive, some walk-in wanker expresses his support by shouting "Fuck the Beatles!".

    Three Gigs And A Funferal Hal Duncan 2004

  • That walk-in wanker's sitting on the floor beside me rocking his head back and forth, deeper into the music than maybe anyone else in the gig.

    Three Gigs And A Funferal Hal Duncan 2004

Comments

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  • Like the American version: jerk. Think about it.

    January 19, 2008

  • Does the American word "jerk" really come from the same meaning? It's so... tame.

    January 21, 2008

  • I don't think this can really be compared with jerk. If it ever meant something to that effect, it has evolved to something much milder.

    September 26, 2009

  • Agreed. A closer term to 'jerk' would be wanqueur.

    September 26, 2009

  • Depends where you are, TSE. From an Australian point of view I'd have to agree with uselessness. Although he's from Albukerke.

    September 26, 2009

  • From my American point of view, "wanker" seems much more tame (and silly) than "jerk", and even a bit sillier than "tosser".

    Hey, what is the difference between "wanker" and "tosser", anyway?

    September 26, 2009

  • Segaiolo in Italian.

    September 26, 2009

  • It's only mild in the U.S. that I know of. I say it a lot and people giggle because it's a funny word. But if I (accidentally) say it in front of any British friends or when I'm overseas, people don't react well. Like Americans use "bloody" and think it's quaint, in the original culture it's still kind of curse-y.

    What is the difference between a wanker and a tosser? Or was ptero setting up a punchline? ;)

    September 26, 2009

  • pajero in Spanish.

    September 26, 2009

  • Nope, no punchline. Just an honest question.

    September 27, 2009

  • Well... a bear can dream. :)

    September 27, 2009