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:
After a stab at acting, Mr. David found a home in New York’s comedy clubs, where his quirky vignettes earned the admiration of his peers.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 9, 2026
It lacks the quirky originality that made “Once” an unexpected Broadway juggernaut.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 22, 2026
But wherever he has gone, his quirky methods have always produced the same result.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 21, 2026
Kelly’s dad, Black Sabbath frontman Ozzy Osbourne, welcomed the television network into his home for an episode of “MTV Cribs,” and audiences were so taken with the family’s quirky dynamic, they wanted more.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 16, 2026
It’s the cool, quirky place to hang out.
From "Thirteen Reasons Why" by Jay Asher
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
“The impossible Fortune” strains at times to manage its numerous plot threads and twists; that’s one of the quirkier hallmarks of Osman’s writing.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 29, 2025
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
Perhaps the quirkiest fortnight in football peaked for Roberto Martinez's side when Ben Watson flicked a 91st-minute header beyond Manchester City stopper Joe Hart to send Wigan fans wild at Wembley.
From BBC ● Mar. 13, 2026
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
In her 2019 debut novel, “Hollow Kingdom,” Seattle author Kira Jane Buxton introduced the world to one of the quirkiest — and most memorable — protagonists to hit the printed page in the past decade.
From Seattle Times ● Aug. 26, 2021
The quirkiest part of his outfit is the ponytail holder.
From "The Fourteenth Goldfish" by Jennifer L. Holm
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Get a wordDefinitions 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.
