quasi

1 of 2

adjective

qua·​si ˈkwā-ˌzī 

-ˌsī;

ˈkwä-zē 

-sē

1

: having some resemblance usually by possession of certain attributes

a quasi corporation

2

: having a legal status only by operation or construction of law and without reference to intent

a quasi contract

quasi-

2 of 2

combining form

1

: in some sense or degree

quasiperiodic

quasi-judicial

2

: resembling in some degree

quasiparticle

Examples of quasi in a Sentence

Adjective

And as more people adopt these teachings as quasi religions, some adherents say their belief systems are no less valid than those based on that older collection of maxims, the Ten Commandments. —Daniel McGinn, Newsweek, 10 Jan. 2000

But also, bachelors, more than married people, blended the two spheres by making their public, non-familial peer group and other associations into quasi families and by carrying on their personal affairs in mostly public or semipublic places such as boardinghouses, saloons, the streets, clubhouses, and the like. —Howard P. Chudacoff, The Age of the Bachelor, 1999

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

Like several quasi-independent regulatory agencies in the executive branch, the STB consists of five partisan board members with staggered five-year terms who oversee a staff. —Jeremy Lott, The Washington Examiner, 5 Sep. 2025

The quasi-ghost town sits about 73 miles southwest of Boise, and still has a few operating businesses in the summer tourist season. —Sally Krutzig, Idaho Statesman, 4 Sep. 2025

Rumor, a frightening, quasi-divine personification, is an essential element in the Aeneid. —Literary Hub, 3 Sep. 2025

In 1975, Manabe published global warming simulations with this quasi-global model and again found stratospheric cooling. —Nadir Jeevanjee, The Conversation, 3 Sep. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

quasi-

Combining form

Latin quasi as if, as it were, approximately, from quam as + si if — more at quantity, so

First Known Use

Adjective

1632, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing quasi

• quasi-governmental
• quasi-judicial
• quasi-legislative
• quasi-public
• quasi-stellar object

Rhymes for quasi

• aussie
• basi
• bossy
• fossae
• glossy
• khasi
• lossy
• masi
• mossy
• posse
• saucy
• bagasse

Kids Definition

quasi-

combining form

qua·​si-

ˈkwā-ˌzī,

-ˌsī;

ˈkwäz-ē,

ˈkwäs-

: in some sense or degree

quasi-historical

quasi-officially

Etymology

Combining form

from Latin quasi "as if"

Legal Definition

quasi

1 of 2 adjective

qua·​si ˈkwā-ˌzī, -ˌsī; ˈkwä-zē, -sē 

: having such a resemblance to another thing as to fall within its general category

a quasi corporation

quasi

2 of 2 adverb

: in some significant sense or degree

—often used in combination

quasi-fiscal

see also quasi-judicial, quasi-legislative

Etymology

Adjective

Latin, as if, as it were, from quam as + si if