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

Derived Forms

• quirkiness
  noun
• quirkily
  adverb

Inflected Forms

Adjectives

• quirkier
  comparative
• quirkiest
  superlative

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

Once a quirky background detail that played an outsized role in his nomination, Kavanaugh’s extracurricular interests have now been elevated by the Supreme Court into a legal fixture of constitutional law.

From Slate • Jun. 30, 2026

As a career documentary filmmaker, I’m always on the lookout for quirky Los Angeles stories.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 29, 2026

During his decade-plus career at the Journal, he's also written more than 30 A-heds, the widely read, quirky feature that appears on the newspaper's front page every day.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 23, 2026

Entry includes unlimited access to more than 150 arcade games spread throughout a sprawling, art-filled space packed with vintage machines and quirky attractions.

From Salon • Jun. 11, 2026

It doesn’t sound distant, antique, exotically quirky, with strange tuning and asymmetrical, jerky rhythms.

From "The Story of Music" by Howard Goodall

Related Words

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