What does "whimsy" mean?
A quaint and fanciful idea; a whim; playfully odd behaviour.
Whimsy
/ˈwɪmzi/ adj, noun, verb
adj, noun, verb ·Moderate ·High school level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: A quaint and fanciful idea; a whim; playfully odd behaviour.
- Grammar: whimsy is listed as adj, noun, verb.
- Nearest alternatives: aberration, abnormality, anomaly, apparition.
- Useful contrasts: consistency, dullness, gravity.
- Usage evidence: […] Take heed of filling their [i.e., children's] heads with VVhimzies, and unprofitable Notions; for this vvill ſooner learn them to be malepert and proud, than ſober and humble.
How to use "whimsy"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "whimsy" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "whimsy" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "whimsy" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "whimsy" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "whimsy" is acting as adj, noun, verb in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "aberration" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.
Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "whimsy", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 A quaint and fanciful idea; a whim; playfully odd behaviour. uncountable, usually
"[…] Take heed of filling their [i.e., children's] heads with VVhimzies, and unprofitable Notions; for this vvill ſooner learn them to be malepert and proud, than ſober and humble."
- 2 the trait of acting unpredictably and more from whim or caprice than from reason or judgment wordnet
- 3 An impulsive, illogical or capricious character. uncountable, usually
- 4 an odd or fanciful or capricious idea wordnet
- 5 A whim (capstan or vertical drum). countable, usually
Show 2 more definitions
- 6 A jigsaw puzzle piece that has been cut into a recognizable shape, as if on a whim; often the shape is representative of the theme of the image used for the puzzle. countable, usually
""Dori, you have to solve this puzzle!" / "Sure, right away doctor. Quality construction … clean edges. Oh, a whimsy!""
- 7 The support that protects a finished piece as it is detached from a punty. countable, usually
Verb
- 1 To fill with whimsies or whims; to make fantastic; to craze. transitive
"A wantonneſſe in wealth, methinks I agree not with, / Tis ſuch a trouble to be married too, / And have a thouſand things of great importance, / Jewells and plates, and fooleries moleſt mee, / To have a mans brains whimſied with his wealth: […]"
Adjective
- 1 Synonym of whimsical.
"Whimsiest of the fairy brood, I cannot scold you if I would"
Antonyms
Example
"[…] Take heed of filling their [i.e., children's] heads with VVhimzies, and unprofitable Notions; for this vvill ſooner learn them to be malepert and proud, than ſober and humble."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "whimsy"?
Common synonyms include: aberration, abnormality, anomaly, apparition, arbitrariness, boutade.
How do you use "whimsy" in a sentence?
[…] Take heed of filling their [i.e., children's] heads with VVhimzies, and unprofitable Notions; for this vvill ſooner learn them to be malepert and proud, than ſober and humble.
How do you pronounce "whimsy"?
Pronounced /ˈwɪmzi/.
Etymology
Probably from whims + -y. Related to whim-wham, whim.