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 of whimsy

• whim
• humor
• caprice

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

Beneath all that whimsy, The Stavrand is still decidedly luxurious. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 11 Sep. 2026

The home’s elevator is also covered in wallpaper, with the woodsy floral pattern adding a touch of whimsy. — Tori Latham, Robb Report, 9 Sep. 2026

The points are represented by plastic eyeballs dropped into decorative glass urns on their player podiums, styled like museum exhibits — a fun bit of whimsy in the production design that unites the ideas of vision and museum art. — Tasha Robinson, Vulture, 8 Sep. 2026

Suckers for a touch of whimsy, the company’s window dressers once garnished a display inspired by the Garde Républicaine, a famous French cavalry division, with a pile of horse manure. — Lauren Collins, New Yorker, 7 Sep. 2026

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