adjective

daffy

DAF-ee/ˈdæfi/

Silly or amusingly eccentric.

His daffy sense of humor keeps us all laughing.

A cheerfully eccentric young man wears a kitchen colander as a hat while solemnly watering a single plastic flower in a teacup.

Etymology

Daffe, “a halfwit,” is one possible base, with -y marking a quality; daft is another, and daffe’s own origin is uncertain. Earlier meanings “unintelligent” and “crazy” connect to the milder sense of silliness or eccentricity.

More examples

She tells a daffy story about a talking refrigerator.
Wearing a cape to breakfast seems a little daffy.
Each costume is daffier than the last.

Forms

daffy · daffier · daffiest

daffiness noun — The quality of being amusingly silly.

Similar words

goofy: Suggests playful silliness, often with awkward behavior or appearance.
eccentric: Emphasizes unusual habits or tastes, not necessarily silliness.
silly: Can suggest poor judgment without daffy's amused, affectionate tone.