offbeat

[awf-beet, of-, awf-beet, of-]

adjective

1. differing from the usual or expected; unconventional.

   an offbeat comedian.

noun

1. Music.,  an unaccented beat of a measure.

offbeat

/ ˈɒfˌbiːt /

noun

1. 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. 1. unusual, unconventional, or eccentric

   2. ( as noun )

      he liked the offbeat in fashion

Word History and Origins

Origin of offbeat¹

First recorded in 1925–30; off + beat

Example Sentences

Ultimately, Redford preferred characters that were a little offbeat - in keeping with his passion for independent cinema.

From BBC

Metal Gear tackled themes not commonly seen in games, such as nuclear disarmament and child soldiers, and posed philosophical questions while also leveraging offbeat humour.

From BBC

Letterman’s offbeat, sardonic brand of humor also gave a layer of hipness to CBS, which had long had a reputation for stodginess.

From Los Angeles Times

My ideal vacation is renting a villa in the Mediterranean during shoulder season when it’s cool and breezy, eating elaborate meals and driving to offbeat museums and hidden beaches.

From Salon

The subsequent expedition is filled with offbeat personalities who help Hernandez and Stephens construct their myth, before poking the bricks out one by one, in ways both droll and achingly sad.

From Salon

Related Words

• bizarre 
• eccentric 
• idiosyncratic 
• unconventional 
• unorthodox 
• unusual 
• weird