Whenever most people encounter the word quip, they immediately think of software that helps sales businesses create and edit documents. However, there’s more to the word than this well-known website. You’ll hear the word in situations where there’s a bit of humor with a twist; the quip definition and meaning will reveal this and much more.
A quip is a short, witty statement or remark from someone as a form of taunt or sarcasm. It’s usually a response to a comment someone recently said. You can also use the word in its intransitive verb form to refer to the action of making short, witty remarks.
The word “quip” is simple and easy to understand, but knowing the “quip definition” is not enough to achieve this. It helps to be acquainted with the various uses of the word. Otherwise, you will make mistakes often, and people will make fun of you. In this article, we let you know all about this word, from its meaning, spelling, pronunciation, to history.
What is the Definition of Quip?
A quip is a quick, clever response to a statement someone made; it is sarcastically funny. Such remarks generally have a light touch, but they can also have some abrasiveness intended to annoy.
For the statement to be classified as a “quip,” it must come after a speaker has made their statement. It must also be clever enough to sound like an afterthought and have some humor element. A quip is what is known in layman terms as a wisecrack.
Here are example sentences:
- Bugs bunny is one of the most famous cartoon characters ever drawn due to his legendary quips.
- When Mr. Hebert was asked why he was in such a relaxed mood, he was quick to quip, “Must be the drugs!”
- “Why do you always find it necessary to cross the road running? You’re not a chicken.” Mrs. Weber’s quip was straightforward.
- “The best way of raising ten children is through patience, love, and a bottle of Vicodin on the bathroom shelf.” Ms. Alexander quipped.
What is the Meaning of Quip?
“Quip” also means to make a joke or speak with humor. This definition is different from the first one in that the trick or statement is not made to respond to any previously said statement. Use this version as a verb form similar to words such as gag or jest.
If you play a prank on your friend or tell jokes, you are quipping. This action, however, is not intended to annoy or hurt their feelings, as the first definition might have showcased.
Here are example sentences:
- Mat made a living on YouTube by making quips on random people on the streets of Montreal.
- Soccer players are known for making quips whenever they score a goal or win a tournament.
- John stopped making quips as soon as he saw the headmaster walk in, but it was too late as he had already been spotted as a noisemaker.
- It was funny whenever people on Twitter made quips about President Donald Trump’s hair.
Frequently Asked Questions about the Word Quip
The word quip has different phrases or can be applied in different situations. Here are some of the questions and answers you’ll love to know about this word.
- What does a quirky quip mean? A quirky quip refers to something not usual, strange, or odd. You can use oddity, eccentric or droll to define the phrase.
- Is quip a negative word? The word quip is a joke pronounced with a light touch, never intended to harm. It’s also not designed to hurt feelings despite a quip coming off as sarcastic, annoying, or rude. Therefore, the word quip cannot be classified as a negative word all the time. However, based on the context and how you say the word, people might consider it negative.
- Is an insult the same as a quip? These words might seem to have the exact definition, but they are different. A quip is a cleverly timed response that shows humor with a light touch or sarcasm. An insult is a word, or a combination of certain words said with the sole intention of hurting someone’s feelings or being rude. While a quip is generally associated with humor and may be responded to in kind with no hard feelings, an insult is the opposite and might even result in confrontations.
Words with the Same Meaning as Quip
You may find the word “quip” challenging to use, prompting you to discover its synonyms. Here are some synonyms of the word.
- One-liner
- Joke
- Wisecrack
- Bon-mot
- Gag
- Jest
- Mutter
- Ridicule
- Banter
- Gibe
- Curious
- Crack
- Taunt
- Quibble
- Quirk
Antonyms of Quip
There are several words related to quip that you might want to familiarize yourself with. These are the antonyms of the word quip. Here’s a list of these words.
- Flatter
- Praise
- First
- Pay homage
- Seriousness
- Sameness
- Conformity
- Compliment
- Earnest
- Tragedy
- Normalcy
- Simplicity
- Casualness
- Regularity
- Commonality
Rhyming Words of Quip
Perhaps you’d want some words that sound like quip to use in your writing, or you are interested in finding words similar to quip. Worry no more because here is a list of words that sound like our word of the day.
- Bib
- Bibb
- Crib
- Gib
- Glib
- Ib
- Jib
- Lib
- Mit
- Nib
- Rib
- Squib
- Lip
- Sip
- Rib
- Hip
- Tip
How to Use Quip in a Sentence
“Quip” is a noun referring to a wise response or remark. Although a quip is not intended to annoy, the word can still be used negatively as an insult or ridicule.
This word has various forms that apply in different contexts. It’s best to acquaint yourself with these versions to help you use the word correctly.
Family Words of Quip
Quippy (an adverb): Refers to an action characterized by quips. Jokingly.
Here are example sentences:
- Most witnesses say their conversation started quiet, then became a bit quippy, then morphed into a full-blown fight.
- We all remember Barney for some fun, laughs, and quippy remarks about the bartender.
- The teacher had warned Jane to refrain from making quippy essays no matter how entertaining they were to the class.
Quippingly (an adverb): Refers to an action conducted in a quipping manner.
Here are example sentences:
- The students were suspended for quippingly making catcalls to a young teacher in the school hall.
- Andrew quippingly kept the toy spider in the bed and filmed his wife screaming in terror after finding it.
- The law prohibits citizens from using police lights and sirens quippingly, resulting in crazy penalties.
10 Examples of Quip in a Sentence
Go through the ten sentences below carefully as they contain the word quip in different forms. From each sentence, you’ll realize how easy it is to use quip in sentences. Have a look!
- Dean stood up, dusted himself up then laughed at Frank’s quip
- “They don’t throw trash away in California but turn it into T.V. shows.” Woody’s quip was viewed as controversial.
- Despite Mark’s quip-oriented antiques, he’s the most powerful being around.
- No one dared make a quip after the news of the attack was televised.
- One thing that has made South Park successful is Kyle, Kenny, Stan, and Eric’s quip nature.
- Aubameyang is a well-known Barcelona forward fond of making quips whenever he scores a goal.
- “The worst thing Americans did was to take a loud-mouthed goon and turn him into a president for five years,” Sandy was quick to quip.
- I believe Brown got slapped because of the quip he made about the lady’s skin complexity.
- “No disrespect to Mark.” Barkley quipped, “But he couldn’t pass the ball even if his life depended on it.”
- Anybody found making quips during school hours will be sent to detention for three days.
How Do You Spell Quip?
The best way to spell the word “quip” is Q.U.I.P.
This is a reasonably easy word to spell. Remember to always add the letter “u” after “q.”
How Do You Pronounce Quip?
The term quip is a four-letter word pronounced as \ ˈkwip \.
This word may require some practice if you’ve never read it before. However, being a short word with four letters pronounced at a go, it should not give you a headache. Make sure you practice the word correctly to avoid mispronunciation.
How Many Syllables Are In Quip?
The word quip only has one syllable; [quip].
History & Etymology of Quip
“Quip” was originally a variant of the word quippy, but its initial version stems from the Latin phrase quippe. As early as the 16th century, it was used to refer to “indeed” or “forsooth.” The Latin word is broken down into quid or quis, meaning who.
The Latin words were later morphed into the English word quip with the definition we’re familiar with today. Other versions of the phrase quip, such as “quibble,” came after the word quip was formed in the 1610s.
When Was Quip First Used?
Sources suggest that the term existed as an English word in 1532. However, its verb form gained traction in 1579 as an intransitive verb.
Conclusion
If you can use new words like quip correctly in sentences of various contexts, then you’ve mastered the English language. However, if you don’t practice, you’ll look like you’re trying too hard to understand the word’s usage. Thanks to our detailed analysis of the quip definition, meaning, and use, you can now better understand this word with ease.
Shawn Manaher is the founder and CEO of The Content Authority. He’s one part content manager, one part writing ninja organizer, and two parts leader of top content creators. You don’t even want to know what he calls pancakes.