quip

1 of 2

noun

ˈkwip 

1

a

: a clever usually taunting remark : gibe

b

: a witty or funny observation or response usually made on the spur of the moment

2

: quibble, equivocation

3

: something strange, droll, curious, or eccentric : oddity

quippy

ˈkwi-pē 

adjective

quip

2 of 2

verb

quipped; quipping

intransitive verb

: to make quips : gibe

transitive verb

: to jest or gibe at

quipper

ˈkwi-pər 

noun

Did you know?

Quip is a shortening of quippy, a noun that is no longer in use. Etymologists believe that quippy came from Latin quippe, a word meaning "indeed" or "to be sure" that was often used ironically.

Synonyms

Noun

• crotchet
• curiosity
• eccentricity
• erraticism
• idiosyncrasy
• individualism
• kink
• mannerism
• oddity
• peculiarity
• quiddity
• quirk
• singularity
• tic
• trick
• twist

Verb

• banter
• chaff
• fool
• fun
• gag
• jape
• jest
• jive
• joke
• jolly
• josh
• kid
• wisecrack
• yuk [slang]
• yuck

Examples of quip in a Sentence

Noun

They traded quips over a beer.

has his share of the quips that seem to come with a title of nobility

Verb

she rolled her eyes at her brother's bragging and quipped, “You're a legend in your own mind, all right”

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Whatever cranky conservative quip Allen fires off is sanded down by the balance Dennings brings to the breakfast table. —Erik Kain, Forbes, 10 Jan. 2025

Comments ranged from playful quips to outright laughter. —Melissa Fleur Afshar, Newsweek, 10 Jan. 2025

Verb

Trump also quipped that Canada should become the 51st U.S. state, but vowed not to use military force—only economic force—to put pressure on the country. —Nik Popli, TIME, 7 Jan. 2025

Kimmel quipped that maybe the actor was appraising it. —Emily Zemler, Rolling Stone, 7 Jan. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Noun

earlier quippy, perhaps from Latin quippe indeed, to be sure (often ironic), from quid what — more at quiddity

First Known Use

Noun

1532, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb

1579, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense

Kids Definition

quip

1 of 2 noun

ˈkwip 

1

: a clever remark

2

: a witty or funny saying

quip

2 of 2 verb

quipped; quipping

: to make quips