Quick answer
Quire means a set or bundle of sheets of paper, traditionally twenty-four or twenty-five. It is usually pronounced , and today it is mostly used in stylized, literary, or playful contexts.
Word page
Quire
Quire means a set or bundle of sheets of paper, traditionally twenty-four or twenty-five. It belongs to fake-sounding but real words and works best in moments when you want a real word that still sounds invented. You are more likely to meet it in literary, humorous, or deliberately stylized writing than in everyday speech.
At a glance
fake-soundingreal-wordodd
How to say it
Meaning in plain English
In plain English, quire refers to a set or bundle of sheets of paper, traditionally twenty-four or twenty-five. It is most useful when a plain label would tell the truth but miss the tone, flavor, or comic edge.
Why this word feels absurd
Quire feels absurd because the shape of it looks and sounds a little awkward in exactly the right way, which helps it stick in the ear.
Origin and history
Quire is generally traced to origin uncertain. In modern use, the history matters less than the strong tone the word still carries.
Is this word still used today?
Quire is rare today and mostly appears in literary, humorous, historical, or deliberately stylized contexts. That rarity is part of the fun: it sounds chosen rather than automatic.
Example sentences
- The column dismissed the whole rumor as quire.
- In the novel, one quire is enough to derail the dinner party.
- She used quire in the essay because the plain modern word felt too bland.
- The teacher paused to explain quire before asking the class to use it in context.
- They kept repeating quire because the sound of it was almost as memorable as the meaning.
When should you use this word?
Use quire when you want a more vivid, characterful choice than the plain everyday alternative. It works especially well in moments when you want a real word that still sounds invented.
Similar words
absquatulate, agelast, bellows, blunderbuss, borborygmus
Opposite or contrasting words
familiar vocabulary, standard wording, predictable language
Common questions
- What does quire mean? a set or bundle of sheets of paper, traditionally twenty-four or twenty-five.
- How do you pronounce quire? It is commonly pronounced .
- Is quire still used today? Quire is rare today and mostly appears in literary, humorous, historical, or deliberately stylized contexts. That rarity is part of the fun: it sounds chosen rather than automatic.
- When should you use quire? Use quire when you want a more vivid, characterful choice than the plain everyday alternative. It works especially well in moments when you want a real word that still sounds invented.
- What words are similar to quire? Similar words include absquatulate, agelast, bellows, and blunderbuss.
Editorial note
Edited by Absurd Words. Last updated: May 9, 2026. See the editorial policy for how definitions, examples, labels, and update checks are handled on the site.