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

• humor
• notion
• whim
• impression
• fantasy
• vagary
• caprice
• bee
• vagrancy
• kink
• whimsicality
• fancy
• megrim
• maggot

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

The whole process, Mill argued, would move voting away from a referendum on a community’s values and toward an act of whimsy, like browsing from an array of calico clothes. —Gal Beckerman, The Atlantic, 23 June 2025

Its mismatched shades and staggered pendant height bring a subtle whimsy overhead that lend the fixture its statement-making quality. —Maria Conti, Better Homes & Gardens, 3 June 2025

For the Beach Bride For the summer bride hosting a seaside soirée, Loewe’s silk fishnet dress—framed with frothy ruffles—is the perfect blend of whimsy and modernity. —Sarah Zendejas, Vogue, 23 June 2025

This is a standard approach to the glassware, with a touch of whimsy thanks to the ochre (or green or pink) marble at the midpoint of the stem. —Blake Bakkila, Architectural Digest, 17 June 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