Use quaint for villages, cottages, streets, customs, shops, or details that feel old-fashioned and appealing.
Use quaint for villages, cottages, streets, customs, shops, or details that feel old-fashioned and appealing.
| Incorrect | Correct |
| The broken factory was quaint and dangerous. | The broken factory was old and dangerous. |
| The modern glass tower looked quaint. | The modern glass tower looked sleek. |
| We stayed in a quaintly cottage. | We stayed in a quaint cottage. |
Use quaint carefully for ideas, rules, habits, or beliefs, since it can imply that they seem outdated or naive.
| Incorrect | Correct |
| Her quaint view of women at work was respectful. | Her old-fashioned view of women at work was disrespectful. |
| The rule is quaint and fully up to date. | The rule is old-fashioned but still in force. |
| He had a quaint about privacy. | He had a quaint idea about privacy. |
Use quaint with attention to tone, since it can praise charming old style or gently mock something outdated.
Plain old things are called quaint when they lack the charm, oddity, or old-fashioned character the word implies.
From Middle English queynte or cointe, from Anglo-French forms meaning clever or expert, ultimately from Latin cognitus, known. The modern sense shifted toward unusual, curious, and pleasantly old-fashioned.
What does quaint mean?
Quaint means attractively old-fashioned or unusual, and sometimes oddly outdated.
Is quaint positive or negative?
Quaint can be positive for charming places or objects, but it can be mildly negative for outdated ideas.
What is a quaint village?
A quaint village is a village that feels charming, old-fashioned, and picturesque.
Can quaint mean strange?
Yes. Quaint can mean unusual or strange, especially when something feels old-fashioned.
Where does quaint come from?
Quaint comes through Middle English and Anglo-French from a Latin root connected with knowing or being skilled.