quirky

American  

[kwur-kee] / ˈkwɜr ki /

adjective

quirkier, quirkiest

1. having or full of quirks.

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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

• quirkily
  adverb
• quirkiness
  noun

Etymology

Origin of quirky

First recorded in 1800–10; quirk + -y ¹

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.

Example Sentences

The quirky Atlanta station’s local broadcasts of old movies and sports games had become national broadcasts.

From Los Angeles Times • May 6, 2026

Ding won over “Jeopardy!” fans with quirky charisma and a penchant for wearing his favorite color, orange.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 28, 2026

Allen, 40, and Harbour, 51, originally listed the quirky Carroll Gardens dwelling in October, just months after it was revealed their four-year marriage had come to an end.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 22, 2026

Sid co-created 1960s and ’70s children’s TV shows that featured colorful and quirky characters like Weenie the Genie, Horatio J. HooDoo and Cha-Ka the ape-boy.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 13, 2026

Set atop these odd beliefs and quirky traits, however, was the mind of a supreme genius–though even when working in conventional channels he often showed a tendency to peculiarity.

From "A Short History of Nearly Everything" by Bill Bryson

Related Words

• bizarre
• idiosyncratic
• odd
• off-the-wall
• peculiar
• strange
• unconventional
• unusual
• wacky
• weird