-nik

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a suffix of nouns that refer, usually derogatorily, to persons who support or are concerned or associated with a particular political cause or group, cultural attitude, or the like: beatnik, filmnik; no-goodnik; peacenik.

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Origin of -nik

<Yiddish (cf. nudnik) <Slavic: a personal suffix in Slavic languages in contact with Yiddish

Words nearby -nik

Niigata, Niihau, Nijinsky, Nijinsky, Vaslav, Nijmegen, -nik, Nikaria, nikau, Nike, Nike Hercules, Nikkei

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2022

How to use -nik in a sentence

So, tell me Nik, how are you preparing mentally for this walk?
Nik Wallenda Will Tightrope Walk Across the Grand Canyon, and He’s Not Even Nervous|Anna Brand|June 22, 2013|DAILY BEAST
Nik Wallenda is set to be the first person to walk across the Grand Canyon on a tightrope.
Nik Wallenda Will Tightrope Walk Across the Grand Canyon, and He’s Not Even Nervous|Anna Brand|June 22, 2013|DAILY BEAST
But that no-fun-nik Rick Perry came out today against the idea.
Self-Deportation, Democrat Style|Michael Tomasky|November 13, 2012|DAILY BEAST
Rhinichthys, rī-nik′this, n. a North American genus of cyprinoid fishes.
Chambers's Twentieth Century Dictionary (part 3 of 4: N-R)|Various

At the end of the room stood now a huge archaic Nik, with outstretched peplum and soaring wings.
Elizabeth's Campaign|Mrs. Humphrey Ward
He turned joyously, his young figure finely caught in the light of Elizabeth's lamp against the background of the Nik.
Elizabeth's Campaign|Mrs. Humphrey Ward
The wood fire glowed on the hearth, and its ruddy light was on the face of the Nik, and its solemn outstretched wings.
Elizabeth's Campaign|Mrs. Humphrey Ward
Splanchnic, splangk′nik, adj. relating to the viscera, intestinal.
Chambers's Twentieth Century Dictionary (part 4 of 4: S-Z and supplements)|Various

British Dictionary definitions for -nik

-nik

suffix forming nouns

denoting a person associated with a specified state, belief, or qualitybeatnik; refusenik

Word Origin for -nik

C20: from Russian -nik, as in Sputnik, and influenced by Yiddish -nik (agent suffix)

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012