ˈ ̷ ̷| ̷ ̷ adjective
1. : varying in pitch from the proper notes of a melody
his off-key, squeaky voice … as he hummed his favorite hymn — Lynn Montross
band … caterwauling away … more stridently off-key than ever — Time
2. : incongruous , unaccountable , anomalous
symbols are sometimes off-key; his details of plot are occasionally eccentric — Gene Baro
sensed something off-key about the disastrous fire — Denis Daly