whimsy

noun

whim·​sy ˈ(h)wim-zē 

variants or less commonly whimsey

plural whimsies also whimseys

1

: whim, caprice

2

: the quality or state of being whimsical or fanciful

the designer's new line showed a touch of whimsy

3

: a fanciful or fantastic device, object, or creation especially in writing or art

Synonyms of whimsy

• whim

Examples of whimsy in a Sentence

The designer's new line showed a touch of whimsy.

a bit of decorative whimsy

Recent Examples on the Web

Men’s streetwear, 2014 internet fashion, the whimsy and sparkle of childhood princess costumes, ‘Uptown Girls’ and Brittany Murphy over-all. —Andre Claudio, Sourcing Journal, 15 Dec. 2025

And for the consummate dinner-party host, adorable tomato-print cloth napkins that bring just the right amount of whimsy to a tablescape. —Laura Lajiness Kaupke, Refinery29, 15 Dec. 2025

Sanders has experimented with a rotating cast of characters — including a turkey, a skeleton and even floating ghosts hanging from her ceiling — to bring extra whimsy to her banjo performances. —Jordan Greene, PEOPLE, 12 Dec. 2025

Wear it for a night of whimsy at a Shakespearean ballet or to the Wicked matinee. —Jenny Berg, Vogue, 12 Dec. 2025

Word History

Etymology

irregular from whim-wham

First Known Use

1605, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

whimsy

noun

whim·​sy

variants also whimsey

ˈhwim-zē 

ˈwim-

plural whimsies also whimseys

1

: whim, caprice

2

: the quality or state of being whimsical or fanciful

the designer's new line of swimwear showed a touch of whimsy

3

: an imaginative or fantastic object or creation especially in a piece of writing or art