quirky
Americanadjective
-
quirkier,
comparative
-
quirkiest
superlative
Usage
What does quirky mean? Quirky describes something that has or is full of quirks, which are odd or unusual qualities. Usually, a person is described as quirky when they behave in a way or have qualities that are unique to them or that set them apart from others. Things are described as quirky when they have odd qualities. A quirky house, for example, might be painted fluorescent colors or have an odd shape. Examples:
- Because Janet dyes her hair bright green and wears roller skates more than shoes, people think of her as quirky.
- The painting’s irregular shapes and vivid colors give it a quirky feel.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Adjectives
Etymology
Origin of quirky
Explanation
Your friend with the pink hair, the excellent vocabulary, and the totally inappropriate wit? You could probably call her quirky, meaning she’s unconventional and has a strange mix of traits that somehow end up being kind of interesting or charming. This informal all-purpose term can be used to describe anything that doesn’t quite fit in. The adjective quirky is often used to describe those unconventional things that are characterized by peculiar behavior or an unexpected point of view. Quirky is often used to describe people, but it can also refer to things that seem to possess an unexpected and unconventional element, like a quirky strategy or a quirky idea.
Vocabulary lists containing quirky
40 SAT words Beginning with "Q"
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"The Witches" by Roald Dahl, Chapters 1–5
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Scrabble: Words that Begin with Q
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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:
Shannon, 29, is a project planner and scheduler from Gloucestershire, who was taught to bake by her beloved nan and describes her style as whimsical, quirky and rustic.
From BBC ● Sep. 8, 2026
You can find quirky kitty tchotchkes, funny feline-themed mugs and hats with cats on them, as well as a vast array of vintage pop culture items, clothing and jewelry sans cats.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 7, 2026
Wreckage from the 1906 earthquake was used to build the first “arks,” houseboats in Sausalito, providing a quirky infrastructure.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 4, 2026
Don’t forget—adding a quirky hobby to your résumé can help in your job hunt.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 26, 2026
Three of the cast members had been on the Main Stage two years before, as sophomores, performing a quirky play called The Rimers of Eldritch in a massive theater packed with an audience of 2,800.
From "Drama High" by Michael Sokolove
The new film about Holmes, “You Can See Everything,” offers a quirkier, up-close take on Holmes.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 11, 2026
The vibe of Dave & Buster’s might be quirkier than you’d expect, but it was still a corporation.
From Slate ● Jun. 25, 2026
But over the course of four days, I sought out some of the quirkier corners of the city.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 24, 2026
Queen Camilla will show Melania one of the quirkier items in Windsor, a remarkable dolls' house, made a century ago by the architect Sir Edwin Lutyens.
From BBC ● Sep. 14, 2025
Kraus is a powerfully original writer, and her book is quirkier.
From New York Times ● Nov. 21, 2022
"The quirkiest thing for us about it is every time you open the curtains you've got 25 people outside taking photos of your house - that takes a lot of getting used to."
From BBC ● Jun. 22, 2026
The best, or quirkiest, are yet to come.
From Seattle Times ● Mar. 18, 2024
Today, the former lovers run the Museum of Broken Relationships, one of Croatia’s busiest — and quirkiest — tourist attractions.
From New York Times ● Feb. 14, 2023
My closest friend is also the quirkiest in the group.
From Slate ● Oct. 11, 2022
The quirkiest part of his outfit is the ponytail holder.
From "The Fourteenth Goldfish" by Jennifer L. Holm
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.
