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

And like many times in the event’s history, this year’s pumpkins were a mix of creative whimsy and serious messages. —Sal Pizarro, Mercury News, 25 Oct. 2025

All accommodations incorporate a mix of custom furnishings and vintage finds that ground the spaces in a traditional European aesthetic, but a playful mix of patterns adds a touch of whimsy. —Sarah Bruning, Travel + Leisure, 24 Oct. 2025

These velvet pumpkins are soft and add just the right amount of whimsy to my Thanksgiving dinner table. —Jeaneen Russell, PEOPLE, 23 Oct. 2025

When they are named, the aim is to seduce with a touch of whimsy and decadence. —Joel Hart, Vogue, 23 Oct. 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