junk

We use the word "junk" for things that have very little value or things that are worthless:

• That car is a piece of junk.
• We have a lot of junk in our house that we need to throw out.
• Bill bought a cheap computer that turned out to be junk.
• She has a lot of junk in her apartment. (Sometimes the word "junk" is similar to "stuff" or "things." In this case, the things might have some value.)

The adjective form is "junky."

• This is kind of a junky car.
• He works on a junky computer.
• That old lamp is really junky. Let’s get rid of it.

When you use the word "junk" in front of "food," it becomes "junk food." This is food that has very little nutritional value–candy, cookies, chips, donuts, etc.

• Danielle is overweight because she eats a lot of junk food.
• I like the taste of junk food, but it’s not healthy.
• Many people say that fast food is junk food.

This car is in a junk yard. It doesn’t run, and it’s all rusty, but Dave wants to buy it and restore it to its original condition.

Is it a piece of junk, or is it valuable?

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This page was first published on February 25, 2012. It was updated on June 10, 2015.