offbeat

[ adjective awf-beet, of-; noun awf-beet, of- ]

/ adjective ˈɔfˈbit, ˈɒf-; noun ˈɔfˌbit, ˈɒf- /

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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.

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Origin of offbeat

First recorded in 1925–30; off + beat

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2022

How to use offbeat in a sentence

Although the blood-spattered offices will be off-limits, staff have vowed to continue producing the magazine.
France Mourns—and Hunts|Nico Hines, Christopher Dickey|January 8, 2015|DAILY BEAST
A passing off-duty school safety officer named Fred Lucas said that he had been told the man was a drug dealer.
Shot Down During the NYPD Slowdown|Michael Daly|January 7, 2015|DAILY BEAST
He beat his illness twice, wrote about his battles with the disease, and continued broadcasting even as his health was failing.
Remembering ESPN’s Sly, Cocky, and Cool Anchor Stuart Scott|Stereo Williams|January 4, 2015|DAILY BEAST
It went into remission, but it would resurface in 2011; and Scott was able to beat it once again.
Remembering ESPN’s Sly, Cocky, and Cool Anchor Stuart Scott|Stereo Williams|January 4, 2015|DAILY BEAST

The NOPD fired Knight in 1973 for stealing lumber from a construction site as an off-duty cop.
The Louisiana Racists Who Courted Steve Scalise|Jason Berry|January 3, 2015|DAILY BEAST
Even if poverty were gone, the flail could still beat hard enough upon the grain and chaff of humanity.
The Unsolved Riddle of Social Justice|Stephen Leacock
A far-off volley rumbled over the plain, and a few birds stirred uneasily among the trees.
The Red Year|Louis Tracy
His face flushed with annoyance, and taking off his soft hat he began to beat it impatiently against his leg as he walked.
The Awakening and Selected Short Stories|Kate Chopin
The pulse in Louis's temples beat hard; yet he was determined not to anticipate, but make Wharton explain himself.
The Pastor's Fire-side Vol. 3 of 4|Jane Porter
To be sure, he hadn't seen Mrs. Robin go, but he had heard the beat of her wings as she began her flight.
The Tale of Grandfather Mole|Arthur Scott Bailey

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

unusual, unconventional, or eccentric
(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

offbeat

Origin of offbeat

Words related to offbeat

How to use offbeat in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for offbeat