Dictionary.com

offbeat

[ adjective awf-beet, of-; noun awf-beet, of- ]
/ adjective ˈɔfˈbit, ˈɒf-; noun ˈɔfˌbit, ˈɒf- /
Save This Word!
See synonyms for: offbeat / offbeats on Thesaurus.com
adjective
differing from the usual or expected; unconventional: an offbeat comedian.
noun
Music. an unaccented beat of a measure.
QUIZ
CAN YOU ANSWER THESE COMMON GRAMMAR DEBATES?
There are grammar debates that never die; and the ones highlighted in the questions in this quiz are sure to rile everyone up once again. Do you know how to answer the questions that cause some of the greatest grammar debates?
Question 1 of 7
Which sentence is correct?
His boss, whom he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.
His boss, who he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.
TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Origin of offbeat

First recorded in 1925–30; off + beat
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Words related to offbeat

bizarre, eccentric, idiosyncratic, unconventional, unorthodox, unusual, weird, bohemian, novel, oddball, far-out, freaky, fresh, outré, uncommon, unique, way-out

How to use offbeat in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for offbeat

offbeat
/ (ˈɒfˌbiːt) /
noun
music any of the normally unaccented beats in a bar, such as the second and fourth beats in a bar of four-four time. They are stressed in most rock and some jazz and dance music, such as the bossa nova
adjective
  1. unusual, unconventional, or eccentric
  2. (as noun)he liked the offbeat in fashion
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
FEEDBACK