whimsical

adjective

whim·​si·​cal ˈ(h)wim-zi-kəl 

1

a

: resulting from or characterized by whim or caprice

especially : lightly fanciful

whimsical decorations

b

: subject to erratic behavior or unpredictable change

2

: full of, actuated by, or exhibiting whims

whimsicality

ˌ(h)wim-zə-ˈka-lə-tē 

noun

whimsically

ˈ(h)wim-zi-k(ə-)lē 

adverb

whimsicalness

ˈ(h)wim-zi-kəl-nəs 

noun

Did you know?

Trace Whimsical Back to the 16th Century

Even the origin of whimsical is whimsical: its ultimate source (by way of the noun whimsy) is the now-obscure whim-wham, a noun from the early 16th century that first referred to an ornamental object or trinket, and later to an eccentric impulse or interest—that is, to what in modern terms can be called a whim. The origin of whim-wham isn’t clear, but it’s among a class of words known as reduplications, words that are formed by repeating a word, as in go-go, or by adding to a word one that sounds very similar to it, as in dillydally. (In the case of whim-wham, the original duplicated term has been lost to time.) While whimsical first described those who tend toward whimsy, it now commonly describes things that are unusual in a playful or amusing way, as in “charmed by the book’s whimsical illustrations.”

Synonyms

• impulsive
• eccentric
• volatile

Examples of whimsical in a Sentence

You can practically taste the tropics in these whimsical doughnuts. Ripe bananas, toasted coconut and your favorite rum transform traditional doughnuts into paradisiacal ones. —Janice Wald Henderson, Chocolatier, March 2001

Unlike the broad slapstick humor of Musical Mose and other early Herriman strips, Krazy Kat was gentle, fey, and whimsical. —Jeet Heer, Lingua Franca, September 2001

In the whimsical linguistics of theoretical physics, the "naked" electron is an imaginary object cut off from the influences of the field, whereas a "dressed" electron carries the imprint of the universe, but it is all buried in extremely tiny modifications to its bare properties. —Leon Lederman et al., The God Particle, 1993

She has a whimsical sense of humor.

it's hard to make plans with such a whimsical best friend

Recent Examples on the Web

Known for its bold, joyfully offbeat designs, the brand delivers a whimsical take on everyday earrings with dangling freshwater pearls and seashell accents. —Lauren Alexis Fisher, Footwear News, 7 Aug. 2025

The food containers are all decorated with whimsical illustrations, and the bag even features a crossword puzzle with McDonaldland trivia. —Erin Clements, People.com, 7 Aug. 2025

Its adorable swan-like design adds a whimsical touch to any room. —Nora Colomer May Earn A Commission If You Buy Through Our Referral Links. This Content Was Created By A Team That Works Independently From The Fox Newsroom., FOXNews.com, 6 Aug. 2025

One of the more whimsical and luxurious touches at Pelican Hill is the Villa & Vespa Experience, part of the resort’s seasonal Ciao Bella! programming. —John Vorwald, Robb Report, 4 Aug. 2025

Word History

Etymology

whimsy

First Known Use

1653, in the meaning defined at sense 2

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Kids Definition

whimsical

adjective

whim·​si·​cal ˈhwim-zi-kəl 

ˈwim-

1

: full of whims : capricious

a whimsical person always going off somewhere

2

a

: resulting from or marked by whim

especially : lightly peculiar

whimsical outfits

b

: erratic

whimsical behavior

whimsicality

ˌhwim-zə-ˈkal-ət-ē 

ˌwim-

noun

whimsically

ˈhwim-zi-k(ə-)lē 

ˈwim-

adverb