quirky

American  

[kwur-kee] / ˈkwɜr ki /

adjective

quirkier, quirkiest

1. having or full of quirks.

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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

• quirkiness
  noun
• quirkily
  adverb

Inflected Forms

Adjectives

• quirkier
  comparative
• quirkiest
  superlative

Etymology

Origin of quirky

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

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.

Example Sentences

In 2019, when he bought the building that would house Quirky, he was nearing 60 years old, finally making his way back to brick-and-mortar.

From Slate • Mar. 25, 2026

Gil never went over and introduced himself to Sarah, co-owner of the Albuquerque School of Healing Arts, which shared a lot line with Quirky.

From Slate • Mar. 25, 2026

So when Reyne told a few friends about the safe passage at Quirky, Gil figured it was no big deal.

From Slate • Mar. 25, 2026

At night, after the bookstore closed, he, sometimes with the help of friends, pushed the inoperable vehicle into the lot at Quirky and slept in it.

From Slate • Mar. 25, 2026

Checking for Chiltington one more time, she tiptoed up to the third floor, where she found the room labeled “Lemoncello-abilia: Mini-Museum of Personally Interesting and Somewhat Quirky Junk.”

From "Escape from Mr. Lemoncello's Library" by Chris Grabenstein

Related Words

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