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quaint

adjective
\ ˈkwānt How to pronounce quaint (audio) \

Definition of quaint

1a : pleasingly or strikingly old-fashioned or unfamiliar a quaint phrase
b : unusual or different in character or appearance : odd
2a : marked by skillful design quaint with many a device in India ink— Herman Melville
b : marked by beauty or elegance
3 obsolete : expert, skilled
Other Words from quaint Synonyms Choose the Right Synonym More Example Sentences Learn More about quaint

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Other Words from quaint

quaintly adverb
quaintness noun

Choose the Right Synonym for quaint

strange, singular, unique, peculiar, eccentric, erratic, odd, quaint, outlandish mean departing from what is ordinary, usual, or to be expected. strange stresses unfamiliarity and may apply to the foreign, the unnatural, the unaccountable. a journey filled with strange sights singular suggests individuality or puzzling strangeness. a singular feeling of impending disaster unique implies singularity and the fact of being without a known parallel. a career unique in the annals of science peculiar implies a marked distinctiveness. the peculiar status of America's first lady eccentric suggests a wide divergence from the usual or normal especially in behavior. the eccentric eating habits of preschoolers erratic stresses a capricious and unpredictable wandering or deviating. a friend's suddenly erratic behavior odd applies to a departure from the regular or expected. an odd sense of humor quaint suggests an old-fashioned but pleasant oddness. a quaint fishing village outlandish applies to what is uncouth, bizarre, or barbaric. outlandish fashions of the time

Examples of quaint in a Sentence

A lot can change in 25 years, and Yountville has gone from an also-ran on the Napa food-and-wine tourism scene to the focus of activity. The quaint bed and breakfasts of yesterday have been replaced by upscale hotels and inns, and the village has become a mecca for top chefs. — Tim Fish, Wine Spectator, 15 June 2008 Therefore, when the federal Constitutional Convention decided in 1787 that U.S. senators would be appointed by state legislatures rather than elected by the people at large, the drafters were actually placing the choice of U.S. senators in the control of state leaders who had met their states' highest qualifications for property and religion. Today, these property and religious qualifications are likely to strike us as quaint historical oddities. — Richard N. Rosenfeld, Harper's, May 2004 Five minutes by ferry from the bustling concrete depths of Wall Street sits what could be a quaint New England town: stately, collegiate buildings framed by tree-lined walkways where the wind rustles through aging oak trees. — Andrea Elliott, New York Times, 25 July 2003 The fishing village was very quaint. The writer talks about the quaint customs of the natives.
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Recent Examples on the Web

 From the late 1800s to the 1960s, Centralia was a quaint but bustling town in Pennsylvania, thanks to its prosperous coal mines. — Caitlin Morton, Condé Nast Traveler, "Creepy Catacombs, Islands of Dolls, and 18 Other Terrifying Places for Thrill Seekers," 4 Sep. 2019 Bring a chair to sit under the trees in the quaint country setting of Arbor Park on Main Street. — courant.com, "Community News For The Vernon Edition," 30 Aug. 2019 Inside there's a quaint little seating space outfitted with a number of antique items. — Darla Guillen Gilthorpe, Houston Chronicle, "Make your short Texas getaways memorable by booking a unique rental, from a house boat to a prison," 23 Aug. 2019 This is not simply a quaint affection for fiscal sobriety. — Jennifer Rubin, The Denver Post, "Rubin: Harris’ health care retreat shows it never pays to follow the herd," 20 Aug. 2019 The quaint backyard provides privacy and room to grow your victory garden. — Bang Staff And Correspondents, The Mercury News, "Sponsored: Tranquility in the hills," 19 Aug. 2019 Maddon’s jaunt was shown on the stadium video board — the only state-of-art feature in this quaint youth shrine. — Mark Gonzales, chicagotribune.com, "Column: Little League Baseball resonates with fans — and players — of all ages and all backgrounds," 18 Aug. 2019 Davis' legacy will particularly shine in the coming days at quaint Lamade Stadium in Williamsport, Pennsylvania. — David Close, CNN, "Watch Nate Diaz's UFC comeback this weekend. The Little League and NASCAR also aren't to be missed," 16 Aug. 2019 But thanks to the supernova popularity of the song by the same name from rapper Lil Nas X, the signs that identify this quaint street have become a target for thieves. — Raisa Bruner, Time, "'Old Town Road' Signs Keep Getting Stolen. Here's How This Quaint College Town Is Dealing With the Thefts.," 15 Aug. 2019

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'quaint.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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First Known Use of quaint

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 3

History and Etymology for quaint

Middle English queinte, cointe, from Anglo-French, clever, expert, from Latin cognitus, past participle of cognoscere to know — more at cognition

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More Definitions for quaint

quaint

adjective
How to pronounce quaint (audio)

English Language Learners Definition of quaint

: having an old-fashioned or unusual quality or appearance that is usually attractive or appealing

See the full definition for quaint in the English Language Learners Dictionary

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