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

• bee
• caprice
• crank
• fancy
• freak
• humor
• kink
• maggot
• megrim
• notion
• vagary
• vagrancy
• whim

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

A lot of that comes from knowing and experience, but that doesn’t mean there’s reason to let go of the whimsy. —Katie Bain, Billboard, 7 Mar. 2025

Certain ideas — a sweater made of flyaway feathers, a gradient that molted into florals around the collar and dresses with untamed bows — hinted at a greater whimsy lying somewhere below the surface. —Jacob Gallagher, New York Times, 26 Feb. 2025

These dueling sensations are emphasized by Aleksander Makowski’s score, which veers between waltzing whimsy and haunting woodwinds, a keen cross-cultural blend. —Siddhant Adlakha, Variety, 24 Feb. 2025

Don’t be afraid to add a bit of whimsy with makeup brushes of cool color, or a marbled look, with a matching holder. —Bestreviews, Sun Sentinel, 11 Feb. 2025

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