quirky
Americanadjective
-
quirkier,
comparative
-
quirkiest
superlative
Usage
What does quirky mean? Quirky describes something that has or is full of quirks, which are odd or unusual qualities. Usually, a person is described as quirky when they behave in a way or have qualities that are unique to them or that set them apart from others. Things are described as quirky when they have odd qualities. A quirky house, for example, might be painted fluorescent colors or have an odd shape. Examples:
- Because Janet dyes her hair bright green and wears roller skates more than shoes, people think of her as quirky.
- The painting’s irregular shapes and vivid colors give it a quirky feel.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Adjectives
Etymology
Origin of quirky
Explanation
Your friend with the pink hair, the excellent vocabulary, and the totally inappropriate wit? You could probably call her quirky, meaning she’s unconventional and has a strange mix of traits that somehow end up being kind of interesting or charming. This informal all-purpose term can be used to describe anything that doesn’t quite fit in. The adjective quirky is often used to describe those unconventional things that are characterized by peculiar behavior or an unexpected point of view. Quirky is often used to describe people, but it can also refer to things that seem to possess an unexpected and unconventional element, like a quirky strategy or a quirky idea.
Vocabulary lists containing quirky
40 SAT words Beginning with "Q"
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"The Witches" by Roald Dahl, Chapters 1–5
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Scrabble: Words that Begin with Q
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
Originally listed in February 2022 for $9.8 million, the quirky La Crescenta, Calif., property then had its price cut to $8.8 million in December of that same year.
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 11, 2026
But the surge of interest and drive to document these quirky, characterful creatures can often result in pleas from local officials to respect their privacy and safety.
From BBC ● Jul. 24, 2026
In truth, both performers seem more at home as members of the Banana Splits Band, the quirky onstage combo that ushers in the show’s retro beat.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 23, 2026
Once, mid-prep, Stetler recalled, ChatGPT signed off a quirky reply: “Praying for you as you preach,” the chatbot wrote.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 19, 2026
Instead of the blouses and hippie skirts Mia always selected for her, Pearl found herself with an armful of quirky T-shirts, a skirt made from an old pair of Levi’s, a navy zip-up hoodie.
From "Little Fires Everywhere" by Celeste Ng
The vibe of Dave & Buster’s might be quirkier than you’d expect, but it was still a corporation.
From Slate ● Jun. 25, 2026
An unusually pretty leading man who is quirkier and funnier than he looks, Galitzine is the kind of rising talent Hollywood rarely knows how to handle.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 3, 2026
But over the course of four days, I sought out some of the quirkier corners of the city.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 24, 2026
Queen Camilla will show Melania one of the quirkier items in Windsor, a remarkable dolls' house, made a century ago by the architect Sir Edwin Lutyens.
From BBC ● Sep. 14, 2025
But in addition, the film does a great job of showcasing some of the city’s quirkier sides.
From New York Times ● Jun. 3, 2023
"The quirkiest thing for us about it is every time you open the curtains you've got 25 people outside taking photos of your house - that takes a lot of getting used to."
From BBC ● Jun. 22, 2026
Today, the former lovers run the Museum of Broken Relationships, one of Croatia’s busiest — and quirkiest — tourist attractions.
From New York Times ● Feb. 14, 2023
My closest friend is also the quirkiest in the group.
From Slate ● Oct. 11, 2022
We’ve gathered 19 of the quirkiest and most delightful L.A. friendship stories to inspire you to get back out there.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 1, 2022
The quirkiest part of his outfit is the ponytail holder.
From "The Fourteenth Goldfish" by Jennifer L. Holm
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
