# whimsy

> English word · Noun · IPA /ˈwɪmzi/ · frequency rank #47,419

## Definitions
1. A quaint and fanciful idea; a whim; playfully odd behaviour.
2. An impulsive, illogical or capricious character.
3. A whim (capstan or vertical drum).
4. A jigsaw puzzle piece that has been cut into a recognizable shape, as if on a whim; often the shape is representative of the theme of the image used for the puzzle.
5. The support that protects a finished piece as it is detached from a punty.

## Etymology
Probably from whims + -y. Related to whim-wham, whim.

## Easily confused with
- **whisk** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/whimsy-vs-whisk)
- **whiny** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/whimsy-vs-whiny)
- **wimpy** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/whimsy-vs-wimpy)
- **whisky** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/whimsy-vs-whisky)
- **whitey** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/whimsy-vs-whitey)
- **Whitby** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/whimsy-vs-whitby)
- **whim** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/whim-vs-whimsy)
- **whilst** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/whilst-vs-whimsy)
- **whammy** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/whammy-vs-whimsy)

## Common misspellings (10)
`hwimsy`, `whhimsy`, `whimmsy`, `whimssy`, `whimsyy`, `whimys`, `whismy`, `whmisy`, `wihmsy`, `wwhimsy`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/whimsy