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

Deploying everything from pickled green strawberries and fresh peas to whipped labneh with Banyul vinegar glaze, artful Viennoiserie evokes more than a little whimsy that spans sweet and savory. — The Bon Appétit Staff, Bon Appetit Magazine, 24 Aug. 2026

And just because the pieces are whimsy in nature doesn’t mean the quality is compromised. — Tiana Randall, Forbes.com, 22 Aug. 2026

The Reluctant Traveler‘s whimsy comes from that exact skepticism, which Levy turns into curiosity about other people’s exposure to the world. — Matthew Jacobs, HollywoodReporter, 17 Aug. 2026

Posing alongside McGraw—who paired his signature black cowboy hat with a dark blue jacquard blazer trimmed with black lapels, a black shirt, and dark blue jeans—Maggie added a pop of whimsy to her monochromatic black look. — Lara Walsh, InStyle, 13 Aug. 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