definitions

off-key

[ awf-kee, of- ]
/ ˈɔfˈki, ˈɒf- /
SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR off-key ON THESAURUS.COM

adjective

deviating from the correct tone or pitch; out of tune.
Informal. somewhat irregular, abnormal, or incongruous.

RELATED CONTENT

What Does 🔑 Key Emoji Mean?Not to be confused with the old key emoji ... the key emoji depicts a single key, and it's presented in varying shades of brass and silver on various platforms.
READ MORE
Fight Off The Fantods With This Word Of The Day QuizThe upper crust might make a fuss over this week's Word of the Day Quiz. | March 11 – 17, 2019
READ MORE

RELATED WORDS

unusual, inappropriate, improper, strange, capricious, unorthodox, discordant, dissonant, hoarse, raspy, cracked, raucous, conflicting, different, various, dissimilar, disparate, atypical, diverse, contrary

Nearby words

off-grid, off-guard, off-hour, off-island, off-islander, off-key, off-kilter, off-label, off-licence, off-license, off-limits

Origin of off-key

First recorded in 1925–30
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

British Dictionary definitions for off key

off key

adjective, adverb (off-key when prenominal)

music
  1. not in the correct key
  2. out of tune
out of keeping; discordant
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012