whimsicality: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
LowFormal to literary
Quick answer
What does “whimsicality” mean?
The quality or state of being whimsical.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The quality or state of being whimsical; playful, fanciful, or capricious behaviour or ideas.
A specific instance of a whimsical act, remark, or notion.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning or form. Slightly more likely to appear in literary or cultivated conversation in both varieties.
Connotations
Both share connotations of light-hearted, imaginative, and pleasantly unpredictable behaviour.
Frequency
Equally low frequency in both dialects.
Grammar
How to Use “whimsicality” in a Sentence
[noun] + of + whimsicalitywith + a + touch/sense/hint + of + whimsicalityVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “whimsicality” in a Sentence
adverb
British English
- whimsically
American English
- whimsically
adjective
British English
- whimsical
American English
- whimsical
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare. Possibly used in creative industries to describe a non-traditional, playful marketing approach.
Academic
Rare in hard sciences. May appear in literary criticism or cultural studies to describe a stylistic feature.
Everyday
Uncommon. Might be used to describe a person's charmingly unpredictable actions.
Technical
Not used in technical contexts.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “whimsicality”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “whimsicality”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “whimsicality”
- Misspelling as 'whimiscalty' or 'whimsicalty'. Incorrectly using it as a synonym for 'stupidity' or 'irrationality'.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is generally positive or neutral, describing charming, playful, or imaginative unpredictability. It is not used for negative capriciousness.
They are largely synonymous. 'Whimsy' is more common and can also refer to a specific whim. 'Whimsicality' is a more formal, abstract noun focusing on the quality itself.
It is rare. It might be appropriate in creative fields like design, advertising, or the arts to describe a playful, non-conventional element.
No. The related adjective is 'whimsical' and the adverb is 'whimsically'. There is no direct verb '*to whimsic' or '*to whimsicalize' in standard use.
The quality or state of being whimsical.
Whimsicality is usually formal to literary in register.
Whimsicality: in British English it is pronounced /ˌwɪm.zɪˈkæl.ə.ti/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌwɪm.zɪˈkæl.ə.t̬i/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “A flight of whimsicality”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'WHIMsicalITY' - a whimsical person has a lot of whimsicalITY.
Conceptual Metaphor
IMAGINATION IS PLAY; UNPREDICTABLE BEHAVIOUR IS A BREEZE/A WHIM OF THE WIND.
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following best captures the nuance of 'whimsicality'?