whimsy

noun

whim·​sy ˈ(h)wim-zē How to pronounce whimsy (audio)
variants or less commonly whimsey
plural whimsies also whimseys
1
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

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 For example, a serene shot of a bird in a bird bath got a dose of whimsy when Dawley added a surfboard and white caps. Amanda Long, Washington Post, 19 Sep. 2023 Passages Fernando Botero, the Colombian painter and sculptor whose depictions of people in exaggerated forms could be full of whimsy but also bite, is dead at 91. Carolina A. Miranda, Los Angeles Times, 16 Sep. 2023 With preppy tennis looks having a sartorial renaissance as of late, there's all the more reason to embrace some whimsy this year. Jaimie Potters, Town & Country, 17 Aug. 2023 The series, which ran for five years, highlighted Reubens’ sense of whimsy and playfulness; it was ostensibly geared toward children but beloved by adults for his off-kilter humor and bizarre characters. Althea Legaspi, Rolling Stone, 31 July 2023 The quirky pumpkin patch design adds a touch of whimsy without being too cheugy! Naydeline Mejia, Women's Health, 2 Sep. 2023 The piece also had red flowers and stripes going down the length of it, adding a touch of whimsy. Adrianna Freedman, Good Housekeeping, 25 Aug. 2023 The house has been creating Secret watches, with hidden dials, since the 1920s—a signature note of whimsy that characterizes even Van Cleef’s most serious pieces. Stellene Volandes, Town & Country, 21 Aug. 2023 This elegant drink features corn three ways: as a whiskey and muddled kernels, which provide a fresh, savory-sweet twist — and its corncob garnish adds unexpected whimsy. Zoe Glasser, Washington Post, 15 July 2023 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'whimsy.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

irregular from whim-wham

First Known Use

1605, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of whimsy was in 1605

Dictionary Entries Near whimsy

Cite this Entry

“Whimsy.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/whimsy. Accessed 3 Oct. 2023.

Kids Definition

whimsy

noun
whim·​sy
variants also whimsey
ˈhwim-zē How to pronounce whimsy (audio)
ˈwim-
plural whimsies also whimseys
1
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

More from Merriam-Webster on whimsy

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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