The phrase honky is a slur that is used to make pejorative comments about white people, more specifically those of European heritage. It is believed that the phrase honky-tonk arose in the late 19th century as a reduced version of the word honky-tonk, which was used to describe a style of music that was popular among white people at the time. The term honky-tonk was shortened to honky-tonk.
The term white people who are out of touch with the experiences of people of colour became more commonly used in the middle of the 20th century, particularly in the United States, as a way to describe white individuals who were viewed as being out of touch with such experiences. In recent years, the expression has been used less frequently; yet, many people continue to associate it with a negative connotation.