1
a
: pleasingly or strikingly old-fashioned or unfamiliar
a quaint phrase
b
: unusual or different in character or appearance : odd
2
a
: marked by skillful design
… quaint with many a device in India ink.—
Herman Melville
Herman Melville
b
: marked by beauty or elegance
quaintly
adverb
quaintness
noun
Examples of quaint in a Sentence
Adjective
A lot can change in 25 years, and Yountville has gone from an also-ran on the Napa food-and-wine tourism scene to the focus of activity. The quaint bed and breakfasts of yesterday have been replaced by upscale hotels and inns, and the village has become a mecca for top chefs.
—Tim Fish, Wine Spectator, 15 June 2008
Therefore, when the federal Constitutional Convention decided in 1787 that U.S. senators would be appointed by state legislatures rather than elected by the people at large, the drafters were actually placing the choice of U.S. senators in the control of state leaders who had met their states' highest qualifications for property and religion. Today, these property and religious qualifications are likely to strike us as quaint historical oddities.
—Richard N. Rosenfeld, Harper's, May 2004
Five minutes by ferry from the bustling concrete depths of Wall Street sits what could be a quaint New England town: stately, collegiate buildings framed by tree-lined walkways where the wind rustles through aging oak trees.
—Andrea Elliott, New York Times, 25 July 2003
The fishing village was very quaint.
The writer talks about the quaint customs of the natives.
Tim Fish, Wine Spectator, 15 June 2008
Therefore, when the federal Constitutional Convention decided in 1787 that U.S. senators would be appointed by state legislatures rather than elected by the people at large, the drafters were actually placing the choice of U.S. senators in the control of state leaders who had met their states' highest qualifications for property and religion. Today, these property and religious qualifications are likely to strike us as quaint historical oddities.
—Richard N. Rosenfeld, Harper's, May 2004
Five minutes by ferry from the bustling concrete depths of Wall Street sits what could be a quaint New England town: stately, collegiate buildings framed by tree-lined walkways where the wind rustles through aging oak trees.
—Andrea Elliott, New York Times, 25 July 2003
The fishing village was very quaint.
The writer talks about the quaint customs of the natives.
Recent Examples on the Web
Lance Reynolds, Boston Herald, 8 June 2026
For gardens with an olde California vibe, wander the grounds at Filoli, the grand estate in Woodside, then maybe drive over Highway 92 to Half Moon Bay for the quaintest, sea-shanty-ist spot on the coast.
—David Hochman, Forbes.com, 5 June 2026
Season two, which will again be set in the quaint Maine town of Founder’s Cove, will also consist of six, hour-long episodes and go into production later this year.
—Denise Petski, Deadline, 28 May 2026
In addition to Molina, the show stars Geena Davis, Denis O’Hare, Clarke Peters, Alfre Woodard and Bill Pullman as residents in the retirement community, The Boroughs, where unexplained things begin to threaten their quaint way of life.
—Meredith Wilshere, PEOPLE, 28 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for quaint
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Adjective
Town governments in the typically quaint suburbs of Foxboro and the surrounding area have hard regulations on short-term rentals, with most communities requiring properties to be rented out for at least 12 months.
—Lance Reynolds, Boston Herald, 8 June 2026
For gardens with an olde California vibe, wander the grounds at Filoli, the grand estate in Woodside, then maybe drive over Highway 92 to Half Moon Bay for the quaintest, sea-shanty-ist spot on the coast.
—David Hochman, Forbes.com, 5 June 2026
Season two, which will again be set in the quaint Maine town of Founder’s Cove, will also consist of six, hour-long episodes and go into production later this year.
—Denise Petski, Deadline, 28 May 2026
In addition to Molina, the show stars Geena Davis, Denis O’Hare, Clarke Peters, Alfre Woodard and Bill Pullman as residents in the retirement community, The Boroughs, where unexplained things begin to threaten their quaint way of life.
—Meredith Wilshere, PEOPLE, 28 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for quaint
Cite this Entry
“Quaint.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/quaint. Accessed 10 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
quaint
adjective
: unusual or different in quality or appearance
especially
: pleasingly old-fashioned or unfamiliar
a quaint fishing village
quaintly
adverb
quaintness
noun
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