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.

---

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

---

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

At first, it seemed to be another caprice of two already unusual animals: Flying squirrels and platypuses were found to be fluorescent, absorbing invisible ultraviolet light and re-emitting it in shocking pink or bright cyan.

From New York Times ● Oct. 20, 2023

She licked the envelope shut herself and, because the notion took hold of her suddenly—a kind of caprice and nothing more—she pressed the stamp on upside down before putting the letter in the mailbox.

From "Snow Falling on Cedars: A Novel" by David Guterson

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

She relished the indomitable nature of our quirks and caprices, their capacity to survive even egregious catastrophe.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 27, 2024

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

What makes tournament golf compelling is that it’s a meritocracy posed against nature’s inherent caprices.

From Washington Post ● Jul. 12, 2022

It never for an instant occurred to her that such losses might seriously affect her comfort or convenience, her ostentatious display, or her caprices.

From Froth by Armando Palacio Vald?s

Random Word

Spin the wheel and learn a new word!

---