View source for Wanker

{{Short description|Insult}}
{{hatnote group|{{about|the pejorative term}}{{distinguish|Wanka (disambiguation)}}}}
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[[File:Brady Street Massive Wankers (cropped).jpg|thumb|upright=1.3|Graffiti calling a rival group "Wankers", in [[Bethnal Green]], East London]]
'''Wanker''' is slang for "one who wanks ([[Masturbation|masturbates]])", but is most often used as a general insult. It is a [[pejorative]] term of English origin common in [[United Kingdom|Britain]] and other parts of the English-speaking world (mainly [[Commonwealth of Nations|Commonwealth of nations]]), including [[Ireland]], [[Australia]] and [[New Zealand]]. It is [[synonym]]ous with the insult ''[[Wiktionary:tosser|tosser]]''.<ref>Words, Meaning And Vocabulary: An Introduction to Modern English Lexicology. Howard Jackson, Etienne Zé Amvela. Continuum International Publishing Group, 2000</ref>

==Meaning==
[[File:Fingers and thumb in circle downward motion.jpg|thumb|right|"Wanker" hand gesture]]
The terms ''wank'' and ''wanker'' originated in British [[slang]] during the late 19th and early 20th century.<ref name="early">A Dictionary of Slang and Unconventional English: Colloquialisms and Catch Phrases, Fossilised Jokes and Puns, General Nicknames, Vulgarisms and Such Americanisms As Have Been Naturalised. Eric Partridge, Paul Beale. Routledge, 15 Nov 2002</ref><ref>[http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?term=wank&allowed_in_frame=0 ''wank'']. [[Online Etymology Dictionary]].</ref> In modern usage, it is usually a general term of contempt rather than a commentary on sexual habits. ''Wanker'' has similar meanings and overtones to American pejoratives like ''jerk'' or ''jerk-off''.<ref name="effingpot.com">Etherington, Mike: [http://www.effingpot.com/slang.shtml The very Best of British The American's guide to speaking British]</ref> More generally, ''wanker'' can carry suggestions of [[egotist]]ical and [[Selfishness|self-indulgent]] behaviour and this is the dominant meaning in Australia and New Zealand.<ref name="als2003">{{cite conference |url=https://www.als.asn.au/proceedings/als2003/stollznow.pdf |title=Whinger! Wowser! Wanker! Aussie English: Deprecatory language and the Australian ethos | website=Australian Linguistic Society |year=2003 |first=Karen |last=Stollznow |editor-first=Christo |editor-last=Moskovsky |access-date=22 April 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090912141313/http://als.asn.au/proceedings/als2003/stollznow.pdf | archive-date=12 September 2009 |conference=2003 Conference of the Australian Linguistic Society |conference-url=https://www.als.asn.au/proceedings/als2003.html |page=7,9 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>Ludowyk, Frederick: [http://andc.anu.edu.au/ozwords/April_2001/Swearing.html Anatomy of Swearing]{{dead link|date=April 2025|fix-attempted=yes}}</ref>

''Wanker'' may be indicated by a one-handed gesture,<ref>How to make a [http://jeroenarendsen.nl/2007/07/gesture-wellformedness/ Wanker gesture] and how not to make it</ref> usually to an audience out of hearing range.<ref name="effingpot.com" /> It is performed by curling the fingers of the hand into a loose fist and moving the hand back and forth to mime male masturbation, which is equivalent to saying, "that person is a wanker".<ref>Rude Hand Gestures of the World: A Guide to Offending Without Words. Lefevre, Romana. Chronicle Books, 17 August 2011</ref>

In the [[United States]], the term is understood but rarely used.

Related are terms such as "wanker's colic", for an undiagnosed visceral pain, and "wanker's doom", for excessive masturbation, from slang used in the [[RAF]] and [[British prisons]] since the 1920s.<ref name="early" />

==Differences in perceived levels of offensiveness==
In December 2000, the [[Advertising Standards Authority (United Kingdom)|Advertising Standards Authority]] published research on attitudes of the British public to pejoratives. It ranked ''wanker'' as the fourth most severe pejorative in English.<ref>{{cite web|title=Delete expletives? |work=Advertising Standards Authority, accessed via Wayback Machine |url=http://www.asa.org.uk/~/media/Files/ASA/Reports/ASA_Delete_Expletives_Dec_2000.ashx |format=PDF |access-date=14 January 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120308152410/http://www.asa.org.uk/~/media/Files/ASA/Reports/ASA_Delete_Expletives_Dec_2000.ashx |archive-date=8 March 2012 }}</ref> The [[BBC]] describes it as "moderately offensive" and "almost certain" to generate complaints if used before the [[Watershed (television)|watershed]].<ref>[https://archive.today/20070221101517/http://www.bbc.co.uk/guidelines/editorialguidelines/advice/offensivelanguage/index.shtml BBC – Editorial guidelines, definition of offensive language] . Retrieved 20 January 2007.  </ref>

In Australia, it is considered mildly offensive but is widely accepted and used in the media.<ref name="als2003"/>

Mary Cresswell, an American [[etymologist]], describes "wanker" as "somewhat more offensive in British use than Americans typically realize".<ref>{{cite web
  | last = Cresswell
  | first = Mary
  | title = Word Of The Day: November 19, 1996
  | url=http://www.randomhouse.com/wotd/index.pperl?date=19961119}}</ref>  The word was used twice to comic effect in ''[[The Simpsons]]'' episode "[[Trash of the Titans]]", which caused no offence to American audiences, but prompted complaints on occasions when the episode was broadcast unedited in the United Kingdom.<ref>{{cite news|last=Dowell|first=Ben|url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2008/jun/09/channel4.ofcom|title=The Simpsons: Channel 4 apologises for pre-watershed swearing|work=[[The Guardian]]|date=9 June 2008|access-date=9 June 2008|location=London}}</ref>

==In popular culture==
"[[The Winker's Song (Misprint)]]" by [[Ivor Biggun]] is one of many songs about masturbation. It describes the singer: "I'm a wanker, I'm a wanker. And it does me good like it bloody well should", and it reached number 22 in the 1978 [[UK Singles Chart|UK charts]]. It was banned by [[BBC Radio 1]] and every national radio and television service.<ref>''The Encyclopedia of Popular Music'': Indexes, Volume 10. Colin Larkin. Oxford University Press, 2006</ref>

[[Phil Collins]] used the word in his 1984 cameo appearance on ''[[Miami Vice]]'' and has sometimes been credited with introducing the word to America.<ref>[http://www.philcollins.co.uk/playboy1086.htm Phil Collins interview, Playboy magazine October 1986]  {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090206135705/http://www.philcollins.co.uk/playboy1086.htm |date=6 February 2009 }}</ref>

In the film ''[[This Is Spinal Tap]]'', [[David St. Hubbins]] and [[Nigel Tufnel]] both use the word out of earshot to describe fellow rock star Duke Fame after a chance encounter.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0088258/trivia?tab=qt |title=''This Is Spinal Tap'' (1984) – Quotes|work=[[Internet Movie Database]]|access-date=21 April 2013}}</ref>

On the American television show ''[[Married... with Children]]'', [[Peggy Bundy]]'s maiden name is Wanker and her family is from the fictional Wanker County.

On the British television quiz show ''[[Countdown (game show)|Countdown]]'', contestants have to form the longest word possible from nine randomly selected letters. On one occasion, the letters permitted the spelling of "wanker" (or "wankers") and both contestants replied with the word, leading one to quip "we've got a pair of wankers". The sequence was edited out of the show (as is common with [[wikt:risqué|risqué]] words), but has been shown as an outtake on other shows.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.snopes.com/radiotv/tv/countdwn.htm |date=5 August 2007 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120912001233/http://www.snopes.com/radiotv/tv/countdwn.htm |first=David |last=Mikkelson |archive-date=12 September 2012 |website=[[Snopes]] |title=Countdown |access-date=21 April 2025 |url-status=live}}</ref> However, on a later occasion, "wanker" was offered, and this instance was left in and broadcast unedited.

During the New Zealand national [[cricket]] team's tours of Australia in the mid-1980s, Australian crowds extensively chanted "Hadlee's a wanker" while New Zealand fast bowler [[Richard Hadlee]] was bowling, supported by hand-written banners.  The reference even continued after Hadlee had retired, including a "Hadlee's a wanker" banner appearing at an Australia v Croatia soccer game during the 2006 [[FIFA World Cup|World Cup]] finals.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2015-11-04|title=Richard Hadlee's a wanker chant: the inspiration for fans reaction. Australia v New Zealand cricket tour|url=https://www.foxsports.com.au/cricket/australia/richard-hadlee-recalls-reason-for-australian-chant-that-haunted-then-inspired-him/news-story/91b3055e5fd9738eb22e08179710ab61|access-date=2020-10-15|website=Fox Sports|language=en-AU}}</ref>

The comedy show ''[[Mork & Mindy]]'' featured a character named Mr. Wanker who was Mindy's landlord.<ref>
{{cite video
| title=Mork & Mindy
| medium=TV
| location=USA
| publisher=[[Henderson Productions]]
| url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aVQbgaHBojw
}}</ref>  This was broadcast on American TV and later British TV.

Australian band [[TISM]] released an album in 1998 entitled ''[[www.tism.wanker.com]]'' (which was an active website for a few months after its release). One of the themes in its lyrics is breaking down male society into two distinct cultures: [[Yobbo|Yobs]] (the subject of the [[Yob (song)|first single]] released from the album) and wankers. Its third single, "[[Whatareya?]]", offers examples of differences between the types and tells the listener to decide which one he is.

[[Hard rock]] (formerly [[glam metal]]) band [[Vixen (band)|Vixen]]'s 1998 album ''[[Tangerine (Vixen album)|Tangerine]]'' contains a hidden instrumental track titled "Swatting Flies in Wanker County",<ref>{{cite AV media notes |others=Vixen |year=1998 |title=Tangerine |publisher=CMC International; Eagle Records |location=United States and United Kingdom}}</ref> written by then-member [[Gina Stile]].

In February 2009, [[U2]] member [[Bono]] called [[Chris Martin]] a wanker live on air during [[Jo Whiley]]'s [[BBC Radio 1|Radio 1]] show.<ref>{{cite web|title=Bono Calls Chris Martin A Wanker|publisher=Music-News.com|url=http://music-news.com/ShowNews.asp?nItemID=24741|access-date=1 March 2009}}</ref>

During a live radio debate on 28 May 2010, the future [[President of Ireland]], [[Michael D. Higgins]], urged conservative American radio host [[Michael Graham (radio personality)|Michael Graham]] to "be proud to be a decent American rather than being just a wanker whipping up fear."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.newstalk.ie/2010/programmes/all-programmes/the-right-hook/the-two-michaels/ |title=Michael Graham v Michael D. |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120227230214/http://www.newstalk.ie/2010/programmes/all-programmes/the-right-hook/the-two-michaels/ |archive-date=27 February 2012  |work=Newstalk.ie |date=28 May 2010 |at=15 min 25 sec}}</ref><ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FOxKnsT-XZg Newstalk Radio debate] "The fact of the matter is, look, young people from the United States are travelling all over the world again. They're welcome in Europe, they're backpackers in hostels, people are talking to them because the image of the United States – we've got away from this war mongering – is getting better. The many mistakes Obama is making...at least 47 million people that the likes of you condemn to no health care in a country that I was proud to work in – these people are going to have some health care, so this is the issue, so therefore be proud to be a decent American rather than being just a wanker whipping up fear."</ref>

When acting as the ombudsman on ''[[Red Eye w/Greg Gutfeld]]'' in 2011, [[Mike Baker (CIA officer)|Mike Baker]] presented a graph of the "wanker gap" for the first half of the program.<ref>{{cite news|title=Halftime Report: 12/28/11|url=http://www.foxnews.com/on-air/red-eye/index.html#/v/1352205221001/halftime-report-122911/?playlist_id=86926|access-date=29 December 2011 | work=[[Fox News]]|date=23 September 2010}}</ref>  Baker has never given an explanation of the meaning of the "wanker gap."

[[Jack Vance]] wrote a science fiction book entitled ''[[Servants of the Wankh]]'' in 1969. The title was changed to ''The Wannek'' due to its sounding like ''wank''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://starling.us/wankh_vs_wannek.html|title=Wankh versus Wannek|website=Starling.us|access-date=10 April 2014|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140413123247/http://starling.us/wankh_vs_wannek.html|archive-date=13 April 2014}}</ref>

[[Iron Maiden]]'s song "[[El Dorado (song)|El Dorado]]" contains a veiled reference to the term in the line "I'm a clever banker's face, with just a letter out of place." In live performances, singer [[Bruce Dickinson]] would change to an explicit mention: "I'm a clever wanker's face, just a banker out of place."<ref>{{cite video|title=[[En Vivo! (Iron Maiden album)|En Vivo!]]|people=[[Iron Maiden]]|date=2012|publisher=EMI}}</ref>

In January 2015 the then [[Mayor of London]] [[Boris Johnson]] described British-born [[jihadists]] as "pornography-obsessed inadequates who only turn to radical Islam when they fail to make it with girls...They are literally wankers".<ref name=Boris>
{{cite news |last=Gardner |first=Bill |date=30 January 2015 |title=Boris Johnson: Porn-obsessed Isil jihadis are 'literally w***ers' |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/terrorism-in-the-uk/11378700/Boris-Johnson-Porn-obsessed-Isil-jihadis-are-literally-wers.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220112/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/terrorism-in-the-uk/11378700/Boris-Johnson-Porn-obsessed-Isil-jihadis-are-literally-wers.html |archive-date=12 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |newspaper=Daily Telegraph |location=London |access-date=30 January 2015}}{{cbignore}}
</ref>

[[Cockney Wanker]] is a long running character in ''[[Viz (comics)|Viz]]'', based on a [[stereotype|stereotypical]] male [[Cockney]].

Inspired by controversy about [[The White Stripes]]' 2003 song "[[Seven Nation Army]]" connected to [[Donald Trump in music|Donald Trump]]'s [[Donald Trump 2016 presidential campaign|2016 presidential campaign]], the British composer [[Ben Comeau]] wrote, in the style of [[Johann Sebastian Bach|J. S. Bach]], a four-part [[fugue]] on the riff of that song to the words "Donald Trump is a wanker."<ref>[https://www.edp24.co.uk/going-out/anti-trump-classical-composer-and-performer-ben-comeau-headed-to-norwich-for-concert-1-5799203 "Classical Anti-Trump protest song composer headed to Norwich"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200729231304/https://www.edp24.co.uk/going-out/anti-trump-classical-composer-and-performer-ben-comeau-headed-to-norwich-for-concert-1-5799203 |date=29 July 2020 }} by Stacla Briggs, ''[[Eastern Daily Press]]'', 28 November 2018</ref><ref>{{YouTube|RZxCAqCUgug|Fugue on "Donald Trump is a Wanker", based on the "Seven Nation Army" theme}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==Further reading==
*Jenny Cheshire, 1991, ''English Around the World: sociolinguistic perspectives'', [[Cambridge University Press]], {{ISBN|0-521-39565-8}}.
*Tony McEnery, 2005, ''Swearing in English: Bad Language, Purity and Power from 1586 to the Present'', [[Routledge]], {{ISBN|0-415-25837-5}}.

==External links==
{{Wiktionary|wank|wanker}}
*{{commonscat-inline}}
*[http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?search=wanker&searchmode=none Etymology online]
*[http://www.randomhouse.com/wotd/index.pperl?date=19961119 "Wanker"  The Mavens' Word of the Day], 19 November 1996. Random House, Inc.
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20070930181338/http://www.websters-online-dictionary.org/definition/Wanker Websters Online Dictionary: Wanker]

{{Gestures}}
{{Sexual slang}}

[[Category:English profanity]]
[[Category:Sex- and gender-related slurs]]
[[Category:Sexual slang]]
[[Category:Slang terms for men]]
[[Category:Hand gestures]]