off-key

adjective or adverb

ˈȯf-ˈkē 

1

: varying in pitch from the proper tone of a melody

2

: irregular, anomalous

Examples of off-key in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

By 1988, when Phantom debuted on Broadway, the Reagan-era consumer culture and flashy opulence were on their way out, so the ornate, maximalist sets and the lush orchestrations felt off-key to reviewers. — Angelica Frey, JSTOR Daily, 20 Aug. 2026

Nobody wants to be subjected to one more triggering, off-key note of an Edwin Díaz dirge. — Mirjam Swanson, Los Angeles Times, 14 Aug. 2026

Should you ever get distracted by such off-key turns, however, the film is quick to directly remind you which other movies it’s supposed to remind you of. — Guy Lodge, Variety, 18 June 2026

Nilsson’s watercolors complemented the work of the Hairy Who while also being slightly off-key; imagine the same hectic ragtime played on a calliope instead of a piano. — Jeremy Lybarger, Artforum, 2 June 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1901, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

off-key

adjective or adverb

ˈȯf-ˈkē

: above or below the proper tone of a melody

singing off-key