whimsy

Also whim·sey

[hwim-zee, wim-]

noun

plural

whimsies 

1. capricious humor or disposition; extravagant, fanciful, or excessively playful expression.

   a play with lots of whimsy.

2. an odd or fanciful notion.

   Synonyms: humor, whim, caprice

3. anything odd or fanciful; a product of playful or capricious fancy.

   a whimsy from an otherwise thoughtful writer.

whimsy

/ ˈwɪmzɪ /

noun

1. a capricious idea or notion

2. light or fanciful humour

3. something quaint or unusual

adjective

1. quaint, comical, or unusual, often in a tasteless way

Word History and Origins

Origin of whimsy¹

First recorded in 1595–1605; whim(-wham) + -sy

Word History and Origins

Origin of whimsy¹

C17: from _whim ; compare _flimsy

Example Sentences

“There are so many places where there is whimsy and magic because there are so many artists here who are trying to find ways to express themselves.”

From Los Angeles Times

Van Patten had to inhabit not only the trauma that Knox went through, in which her every move was scrutinized by worldwide media, but also the strange whimsy with which she approaches life.

From Los Angeles Times

"Aspiring to be an adult meant rejecting that sort of childlike, colourful, rainbow, unicorn whimsy."

From BBC

So mapping out her future path isn’t just whimsy.

From Los Angeles Times

Tea lovers looking for a drop of whimsy will find it among this display of the world’s largest private teapot collection.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• playfulness www.thesaurus.com