What does caprice mean?
Caprice refers to a sudden and seemingly motiveless change of mind, mood, or behavior — a whim or impulsive turn that defies prediction. The word typically appears in formal or literary contexts, where it often implies a degree of unreliability: a person acting out of caprice cannot be counted on to behave consistently. Yet it can also carry a lighter, more charming sense of spontaneity, as when a decision is made purely on a caprice rather than after careful deliberation. Writers frequently use it to describe the vagaries of nature or fortune — weather that changes on a caprice, or events governed by the caprices of history. Related forms include the adjective "capricious" and the adverb "capriciously." Because English offers few words that capture precisely this blend of impulsiveness and irrationality, caprice remains a valuable and expressive term, lending both precision and elegance to descriptions of human temperament and circumstance.
nounA sudden, unaccountable change of mood, behavior, or opinion; an impulse or whim that seems to lack any rational motive.
- A sudden, unexplained change of mind, mood, or behavior; a whim or fanciful impulse.
- A playful or artistic fancy, especially in music or literature (as in a capriccio).
"She bought the house on a caprice and spent years regretting it."
"The weather turned on a caprice, shifting from sunshine to hail within minutes."
"His resignation seemed less a decision than a caprice, announced without warning or explanation."
Standard regular plural, formed by adding -es. Frequently used when discussing someone's recurring whims or unpredictable tendencies.
"He grew weary of her endless caprices."
Caprice comes from an Italian word for a shivering goat — literally a 'hedgehog' — because the animal's sudden startle captures the very idea of an unpredictable whim.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of caprice
Caprice entered English in the early seventeenth century from French, which borrowed it from the Italian "capriccio." The Italian word originally meant a shudder or sudden fright, and it derives from "capro" (goat) combined with a suffix suggesting hedgehog-like bristling — evoking a startled animal's abrupt movement. The same Italian root gave rise to "capriccio," the lively, free-form musical composition, and to the adjective "capricious."
Related word forms
How caprice is actually used
Caprice is somewhat formal and literary in register; in casual speech "whim" is far more common. It often carries a mildly disapproving connotation, suggesting unpredictability or unreliability, but can also suggest charm or spontaneity depending on context. It is frequently used with prepositions such as "on," "by," or "at" (e.g., "at the caprice of fortune").
Easily confused with caprice
"Caprice" is the noun naming the sudden whim itself, while "capricious" is its adjective form describing someone or something prone to such whims.