caprice

American  

[kuh-prees] / kəˈpris /

noun

caprices plural

1. a sudden, unpredictable change, as of one's mind or the weather.

   Synonyms:

   fancy, whim, notion, vagary

2. a tendency to change one's mind without apparent or adequate motive; whimsicality; capriciousness.

   With the caprice of a despotic king, he alternated between kindness and cruelty.

3. Music. capriccio.

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caprice British  

/ kəˈpriːs /

noun

1. a sudden or unpredictable change of attitude, behaviour, etc; whim

2. a tendency to such changes

3. another word for capriccio

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• caprices
  plural

Etymology

Origin of caprice

First recorded in 1660–70; from French, from Italian; see capriccio

Explanation

On a whim, he sold everything and left the city for the beautiful wilderness of Alaska, but his act of caprice felt a lot less whimsical when he realized how freezing cold Alaska is. The word caprice has its roots in the French for "whim," which comes from the Italian word capriccio for "fright" or "sudden start." A caprice can be just a fun impulsive act, but it also can be something done on a quick whim, without thinking it through or preparing for the change in direction. Having a sudden liking, or caprice, for someone or something can be short-lived too.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

caprice caprices

Their caprice is not divine mystery; it is bald fact.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 24, 2026

It told the BBC that COP presidents are "expected to act without bias, prejudice, favouritism, caprice, self-interest, preference or deference, strictly based on sound, independent and fair judgement".

From BBC ● Nov. 27, 2023

It wasn’t “if” early America would fall back under tyranny, the lawless caprice of monarchy, but when.

From Salon ● Nov. 24, 2023

One theatergoer’s mindless fluff is another theatergoer’s inspired caprice.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 11, 2023

Had all those years, as well as Mom and Dad’s time on the street—not to mention their current life in an abandoned tenement—been a caprice inflicted on us by Mom?

From "The Glass Castle" by Jeannette Walls

He doesn’t abandon art, but he can’t summon the urge to sell himself or his work, to graft his joy in making things onto the caprices of the marketplace.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 8, 2026

There are plenty of times you don't want to be exposed to the individual prejudices and caprices of human beings.

From Salon ● Apr. 26, 2025

They’re long accustomed to caprices of Mother Nature that can spoil an entire alfalfa cutting with a downpour or generate an especially big yield with a string of blistering days.

From Seattle Times ● Nov. 27, 2023

And they don’t want their money riding on the foibles and caprices of human officials.

From Washington Post ● Oct. 15, 2021

You know the opinion I entertain of mankind, and how much it is my desire to preserve myself free from particular attachments, and to keep my happiness independent of the caprices of others.

From Famous American Statesmen by Bolton, Sarah Knowles