Word
quaint
US/ˈkweɪnt/
UK/kwˈeɪnt/
Definitions
01old-fashioned and charming
B2 · Upper Intermediate
adj. attractive because it looks old-fashioned or belongs to the past.
adj. characterised by an attractive, old-fashioned quality that suggests a simpler time.
“We stayed in a quaint little cottage with a thatched roof and a rose garden.”
“The village is famous for its quaint cobblestone streets and traditional shops that have remained unchanged for decades.”
Synonyms
Antonyms
02strange or unusual
C1 · Advanced Informal
adj. unusual or strange in a way that is interesting, though sometimes a bit silly.
adj. unusual or peculiar in appearance or character; sometimes used with a slightly condescending tone.
“He has some quaint ideas about how a business should be run.”
“While the locals found the custom deeply meaningful, the tourists viewed the ceremony as a quaint relic of a bygone era.”
Antonyms
03clever or crafty
C2 · Proficiency Archaic · Literary
adj. showing skill or being clever in a sneaky way.
adj. cunning or artfully contrived; used to describe something cleverly made or a person who is crafty.
“The old story spoke of a quaint fox who outsmarted the hunters.”
“The poet employed a quaint device to mirror the structure of the sonnet, a technique rarely seen in modern verse.”
Usage
Typically used attributively before a noun; can be used predicatively after linking verbs like 'seem' or 'look'.
Real-World Examples
“Though there is something quaint about the idea of an “actor” in the age of AI.” “Whether it's hiking in nature, visiting quaint mountain villages or stopping at a local winery, here are 12 original getaways to enjoy this 'otoño' (autumn).” Etymology
From Middle English queynte, quoynte, from Anglo-Norman cointe, queinte and Old French cointe (“pretty, clever, knowing”), from Latin cognitus, past participle of cognōscō (“I know”).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
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