off-key

adjective or adverb

1
: varying in pitch from the proper tone of a melody
2

Examples of off-key in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web My younger sisters could either hold a tune or were young and cute enough to get away with singing off-key. Lyz Lenz, Rolling Stone, 16 Feb. 2024 Characters like Opera Man, where Sandler, draped in a cape, regaled Weekend Update with off-key, operatic renditions of the news of the day, weren't exactly tight political satire. Dennis Perkins, EW.com, 14 Dec. 2023 The playing is generally strong throughout, reaching cruising altitude after the first couple of dates, but as aways with Floyd concerts, the singing is very uneven and often off-key. Jem Aswad, Variety, 5 Jan. 2024 Millions of viewers have watched Ballinger’s portrayal of the overconfident, judgmental performer who sings off-key covers and complains about her creepy uncle. Samantha Chery, Washington Post, 12 July 2023 The Republican crowd, notably, did not applaud that off-key remark, which came only months after Ms. Reynolds had romped to re-election, carrying 95 of the state’s 99 counties. Maggie Haberman, New York Times, 8 July 2023 The video shows Ballinger, who is known for her satirical online persona, Miranda Sings, in a black leotard singing off-key to the song while awkwardly dancing barefoot onstage with two backup singers. Saba Hamedy, NBC News, 6 July 2023 The Mother Superior is dubious about Deloris but eventually enlists her to train the convent’s comically off-key choir. Don Aucoin, BostonGlobe.com, 10 Apr. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'off-key.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1901, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of off-key was in 1901

Dictionary Entries Near off-key

Cite this Entry

“Off-key.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/off-key. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

off-key

adjective or adverb
ˈȯf-ˈkē
: above or below the proper tone of a melody
singing off-key

More from Merriam-Webster on off-key

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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