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

Example Sentences

The designer's new line showed a touch of whimsy. a bit of decorative whimsy
Recent Examples on the Web This is the latter—a perfect touch of whimsy! Town & Country, 13 Apr. 2023 Now, owning a record player is almost a whimsy. Charlotte Hu, Popular Science, 11 Apr. 2023 Yellow doors add a bit of whimsy. Christina Poletto, BostonGlobe.com, 11 Apr. 2023 From farmland to forest to the Green Mountains, the quaint property offers a secluded, romantic hideaway with a touch of whimsy. Alyssa Girdwain, Women's Health, 7 Apr. 2023 These podcasts, typically running under 30 minutes, are soothing with a touch of occasional whimsy. John Baldoni, Forbes, 22 Mar. 2023 Doucouré’s potent exploration of Hawa’s full emotional landscape is marked with pathos and whimsy, offering a more nuanced alternative to the director’s 2020 debut, Cuties, another slightly absurdist coming-of-age story situated in adolescent girlhood. Shamira Ibrahim, The Atlantic, 18 Jan. 2023 Interior designer Eric Allart imbued this Paris home’s primary bedroom with a print by Simrane from top to bottom, adding a sense of fun and whimsy. Kelsey Mulvey, ELLE Decor, 6 Dec. 2022 The Jessie alum, 29, and her Twenty One Pilots drummer-husband, 34, have dialed up the whimsy at their Columbus, Ohio, residence, where fun is a central theme — all set against the backdrop of the natural world. Anna Lazarus Caplan, Peoplemag, 21 Mar. 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 8 Jun. 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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