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Definition of quaint

quaint

/kweɪnt/
quaint
Adverb:quaintly
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quaint Lexical Profile

quaint Game Scores & Validity

• adjective

1

Attractively unusual, charmingly old-fashioned, or picturesque in an unfamiliar way.

Example

"The tourists strolled through a quaint fishing village lined with cobblestone streets and thatched cottages."

Synonyms
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Antonyms
View all antonyms for quaint

• Rhymes for quaint

• Nearby Words

quagmire
quahog
quail
quaint
quaintly
quaintness
quake

Word Origin & Etymology

Borrowed from Old French 'cointe' (clever, prudent, or neat), which derives from Latin 'cognitus', the past participle of 'cognoscere' (to know or recognize). The word's meaning gradually shifted from 'cleverly made' to 'curious or unfamiliar,' and eventually to 'charmingly old-fashioned.'

Usage Trend

Historical frequency of usage in published text.

180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Quaint. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/quaint
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