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

Kerry Washington delivered dramatic whimsy in a floral-appliqué Prada bra top and ball-appropriate skirt. —Christian Allaire, Vogue, 23 Feb. 2025

The new release, fuses the label’s signature minimalism with subtle touches of whimsy, providing fans with a capsule range that feels both current and enduring. —Angela Lei, Forbes, 19 Feb. 2025

Disappointments: The collections generally aired on the side of wearability and practicality over whimsy and fantasy, at a time that clients may be looking to fashion for a sense of escapism. —David Moin, WWD, 12 Feb. 2025

The elaborate, 20-minute show leaned into magical whimsy with an aviary theme that took flight from the locale, high above the sky stories up in a New York building, to the pieces themselves. —Anika Reed, USA TODAY, 12 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