noun
whimsy
WIHM-zee
noun
1
A playful, quaint, or fanciful quality; also, a passing fanciful idea.
"The garden was decorated with little touches of whimsy, like painted gnomes and a crooked signpost."
"His novels are known for their whimsy and gentle humour."
How to Use Whimsy
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA playful, fanciful quality, or a lighthearted odd idea.
Common pairings
a touch of whimsy
childlike whimsy
Word Forms
whimsier comparative, whimsied past tense, whimsies plural, whimsies singular, whimsiest superlative
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The garden was decorated with little touches of _____, like painted gnomes and a crooked signpost.
Etymology
Probably formed from whim plus the noun ending -y; closely related to the older word whim-wham.