Quirky / adjective / quirk·y

Quirky is an adjective that describes people, places, things, or ideas as unusual, peculiar, or offbeat. This adjective generally has a positive connotation. When things are described as “quirky,” it is often seen in a positive light.

The words “bizarre” and “unconventional” have similar meanings to the word quirky. “Standard” and “normal” are both seen as descriptive antonyms of the word.

In a Sentence

Her quirky behavior shocked some people, while others found it charming.

We know absent-minded professionals and geniuses for having a wide variety of quirky personality traits.

He raised an eyebrow at the salesperson's quirky behavior when he stood on his head trying to make a sale at the shoe store.

Etymology

There is no single, agreed-upon date for when "quirky" first entered the English language. Etymologists suggest that it may have originated in the late 1800s or early 1900s as a slang word used by children to describe something eccentric and unusual. It is now a commonly-used, recognized adjective with the same meaning.

Quirky has always referred to things that were unusual, out-of-the-box, or strange. As the meaning of the word evolved, it came to be used more often as a synonym for peculiar or unconventional people and situations that seem remarkable.

Synonym

Bizzare, Off-the-wall

Antonym

Conventional, Normal