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
• humor
• caprice

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

And for anyone who likes their coastal digs mostly white but not entirely without a little whimsy, the wallpaper might just seal the deal. — Abby Montanez, Robb Report, 13 Oct. 2026

Kallmeyer’s Elaiza and Staud’s Freda are more polished standouts, while Chloé’s ruffled number provides a bit of whimsy with a softer palette. — Corinne Pierre-Louis, Vogue, 9 Oct. 2026

Too often, a pop singer’s maturity comes at the expense of her whimsy. — Enzo Escober, Pitchfork, 9 Oct. 2026

A bit of fishing-village whimsy intertwined with underwater kaiju action? — Brian Tallerico, Vulture, 6 Oct. 2026

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