off-key
adjective
deviating from the correct tone or pitch; out of tune.
off-key
American
[awf-kee, of-]
/ ˈɔfˈki, ˈɒf- /
adjective
-
deviating from the correct tone or pitch; out of tune.
-
Informal. somewhat irregular, abnormal, or incongruous.
off key
British
adjective
-
music
-
not in the correct key
-
out of tune
-
-
out of keeping; discordant
Etymology
Origin of off-key
First recorded in 1925–30
Explanation
Something that's off-key is out of tune or unmusical. If your jazz band is off-key from the first note of their first song, it'll make the audience cringe. You might not care if your friends are off-key when they sing "Happy Birthday" and present you with a chocolate cake, but you may want to get your money back if you buy expensive tickets to hear an orchestra play off-key renditions of Bach and Beethoven. This musical meaning inspired the figurative off-key, meaning "not fitting" or "clashing": "The mayor's big-city values are off-key in our little village."
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
He and his comrades were often forced to sing Soviet songs and were punished if they didn't sing "loud enough or sang off-key".
From Barron's ● May 8, 2026
After Hegseth gave us his version of news headlines, he performed a brief off-key song and dance before skating out of the room having accomplished little and settling nothing.
From Salon ● Mar. 14, 2026
She’s funny and interesting and a little off-key but fully committed, and you never know what she’s going to do next.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Feb. 26, 2026
The former Years & Years singer, 33, had been criticised on social media for his "weak" and "off-key" vocals during the semi-final on Tuesday after his mic pack fell off during his performance.
From BBC ● May 12, 2024
His voice is grumbly and off-key, and hearing him makes me laugh.
From "King and the Dragonflies" by Kacen Callender
Western sanctions cut off key spare parts, forcing the company to replace about 40 systems and operate an "import-substituted" version in 2023.
From BBC ● Jan. 4, 2026
A vocal contingency of fans who pore over recordings of the band’s concerts has long singled out the times she missed notes and sang off key.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 14, 2025
In addition, the CEO cut off key finance officials from banking authorisation, granting power of attorney to individuals with no financial experience.
From Barron's ● Oct. 14, 2025
She also played a double-crossing hotel detective inspector as well as a member of a wedding party singing purposefully off key lyrics, inspired by “Espresso,” to expose bad behavior at the bachelorette party.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 13, 2024
Once, when little Willy was way off key, Searchlight actually grabbed the harmonica in her mouth and ran out of the room with it.
From "Stone Fox" by John Reynolds Gardiner
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
