quirky

[kwur-kee]

adjective

quirkier, quirkiest 

1. having or full of quirks.

Other Word Forms

• quirkily adverb
• quirkiness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of quirky¹

First recorded in 1800–10; quirk + -y ¹

Example Sentences

Negrete said the items reminded him of his youth and represented the gothic, quirky aspects of his personality.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

The process makes the collection feel a little inconsistent — particularly the pieces that are not site-specific — but also personal and quirkily surprising.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

It sits on the corner of Lake Avenue and Altadena Drive, across the street from where one of the neighborhood’s quirky attractions — the Bunny Museum — once stood.

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For anyone looking to time-travel without leaving the present, this retro amusement park promises a colorful, quirky, and thoroughly entertaining escape.

Read more on Salon

Whatever her chosen name and persona, our narrator remains a delightful original—part quirky, impetuous innocent, part optimistic nihilist.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• bizarre 
• idiosyncratic 
• odd 
• off-the-wall 
• peculiar 
• strange 
• unconventional 
• unusual 
• wacky 
• weird 

When To Use

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.