whimsical

adjective

whim·​si·​cal ˈ(h)wim-zi-kəl 

1

a

: resulting from or characterized by whim or caprice

especially : lightly fanciful

whimsical decorations

b

: subject to erratic behavior or unpredictable change

2

: full of, actuated by, or exhibiting whims

whimsicality

ˌ(h)wim-zə-ˈka-lə-tē 

noun

whimsically

ˈ(h)wim-zi-k(ə-)lē 

adverb

whimsicalness

ˈ(h)wim-zi-kəl-nəs 

noun

Did you know?

Trace Whimsical Back to the 16th Century

Even the origin of whimsical is whimsical: its ultimate source (by way of the noun whimsy) is the now-obscure whim-wham, a noun from the early 16th century that first referred to an ornamental object or trinket, and later to an eccentric impulse or interest—that is, to what in modern terms can be called a whim. The origin of whim-wham isn’t clear, but it’s among a class of words known as reduplications, words that are formed by repeating a word, as in go-go, or by adding to a word one that sounds very similar to it, as in dillydally. (In the case of whim-wham, the original duplicated term has been lost to time.) While whimsical first described those who tend toward whimsy, it now commonly describes things that are unusual in a playful or amusing way, as in “charmed by the book’s whimsical illustrations.”

Synonyms

• capricious
• freakish
• impulsive

Examples of whimsical in a Sentence

You can practically taste the tropics in these whimsical doughnuts. Ripe bananas, toasted coconut and your favorite rum transform traditional doughnuts into paradisiacal ones. —Janice Wald Henderson, Chocolatier, March 2001

Unlike the broad slapstick humor of Musical Mose and other early Herriman strips, Krazy Kat was gentle, fey, and whimsical. —Jeet Heer, Lingua Franca, September 2001

In the whimsical linguistics of theoretical physics, the "naked" electron is an imaginary object cut off from the influences of the field, whereas a "dressed" electron carries the imprint of the universe, but it is all buried in extremely tiny modifications to its bare properties. —Leon Lederman et al., The God Particle, 1993

She has a whimsical sense of humor.

it's hard to make plans with such a whimsical best friend

Recent Examples on the Web

This porch has a bold turquoise and chartreuse color scheme carried out in the door, the whimsical side table and accessories, the doormat, and the flowers and foliage in the planters and the foundation plantings. —Leanne Potts, Better Homes & Gardens, 4 Jan. 2025

The preview for Meghan's new series shows closeups of several homemade confections, from intricate ice cubes in a glass to frosted doughnuts and bruschetta appetizers artfully crafted to resemble ladybugs — a whimsical treat that has been a hit on Pinterest and TikTok. —Janine Henni, People.com, 3 Jan. 2025

With his cheeky grin and irrepressible sense of humor, Roger Miller might easily have starred in a Western comedy about the wild, whimsical side of American life. —Darryn King, Forbes, 2 Jan. 2025

Keep it on your nightstand or on your vanity for a whimsical pop of color. —Amelia Mularz, Architectural Digest, 2 Jan. 2025

Word History

Etymology

whimsy

First Known Use

1653, in the meaning defined at sense 2

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Kids Definition

whimsical

adjective

whim·​si·​cal ˈhwim-zi-kəl 

ˈwim-

1

: full of whims : capricious

a whimsical person always going off somewhere

2

a

: resulting from or marked by whim

especially : lightly peculiar

whimsical outfits

b

: erratic

whimsical behavior

whimsicality

ˌhwim-zə-ˈkal-ət-ē 

ˌwim-

noun

whimsically

ˈhwim-zi-k(ə-)lē 

ˈwim-

adverb