noun
offbeat
Offbeat (noun) means (music) The beats in a bar of music that do not usually get the emphasis.
noun
1
(music) The beats in a bar of music that do not usually get the emphasis.
"The congregation clapped along on the offbeat."
2
Someone whose behaviour or style is unusual and does not follow what is expected.
"No one dignified such offbeats by responding to their outcries. Today, the "knockers of progress" have become a force that cannot be ignored."
— Lyle W. Dorsett, The Queen City: A History of Denver (1977)
"Being an oddball, an offbeat, or a creative person, as Jourard sees the committed professional, is something all nurses should risk."
— Eleanor C. Hein, Communication in nursing practice (1980)
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Etymology
Formed from off- and beat; describing something that does not follow the beat, as when a drum sounds out cadence.
Synonyms
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Rhymes for offbeat
See all rhymes for offbeat →Frequently asked questions
What is the meaning of offbeat?
"offbeat" (noun) means (music) The beats in a bar of music that do not usually get the emphasis.
What is another word for offbeat?
Other words for "offbeat" include upbeat, oddball, maverick, individualist, bizarro, misfit.
What are the different meanings of offbeat?
"offbeat" has 2 main meanings: 1. (music) The beats in a bar of music that do not usually get the emphasis; 2. Someone whose behaviour or style is unusual and does not follow what is expected.
