flunk

To flunk means to fail a test, course, or exam, especially at school or college. It usually means you did not reach the level needed to pass. Picture a student who does badly on a final exam and ends up failing the class. "Flunk" is more informal than "fail" and is used mostly in academic situations. You would not usually say someone flunked a job interview; you would normally just say they failed it.

To flunk means to fail, especially in school-related situations such as a test, an exam, or a class. The word is informal and often sounds a little blunt. It usually suggests that the person did not meet the standard needed to pass. For example, a student might study too little, do badly on a chemistry exam, and then flunk the course.

The word is most common in American English, and it often appears in school or college talk. Teachers may say that a student flunked a class, and students may say they flunked a test. In some cases, it can also mean to give someone a failing grade. For instance, a strict teacher might flunk a student who misses too much work.

You will also hear the phrasal verb "flunk out." This means to leave school or be forced to leave because of failing grades. Outside education, people sometimes use "flunk" in a wider or playful way, such as saying someone flunked a driving test or even flunked at being a good teammate. That wider use exists, but the word still feels strongest in academic settings.

Overall, "flunk" is a vivid, informal way to talk about failing, usually in a school context. It points to not passing rather than making a small mistake, and it often carries a stronger emotional tone than the more neutral word "fail."