noun
ilk
ihlk
noun
1
A type or category of people or things sharing similar characteristics, often used slightly dismissively.
"Politicians of that ilk rarely keep their promises."
"I want nothing to do with con artists and their ilk."
How to Use Ilk
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA slightly old-fashioned way of saying "kind" or "sort," almost always used with "of that" or "and their."
When to use it
Mostly literary or slightly sneering in tone — rare in plain neutral writing.
Common pairings
of that ilk
and their ilk
people of his ilk
Word Forms
ilks plural
Study it as flashcards or scroll it in Flow — saved to your collection.
Test yourself on “ilk”
A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage
→
Fill the Gap
Can you complete this real example?
Politicians of that _____ rarely keep their promises.
Etymology
From Old English ilca, "same" — originally used in Scottish surnames to mean "of that same [place]," then broadened to mean "kind" or "sort."