WordGarden.iowhatsit
Pronunciation
UK
- /wˈɒtsɪt/
US
Meanings
Noun
an unnamed or forgotten thing whose exact name is unknown or unimportant
Beyond the definition
Ever point at something and say, "Hand me that... whatsit?" A "whatsit" is an informal word for a thing when you do not know its real name or cannot remember it for a moment. People use it in casual speech as a quick stand-in for an object, often with a smile or a little frustration. You might say, "Where's that whatsit we use to open bottles?" or call an odd little part on a machine "a whatsit." It is vague on purpose, and the listener usually understands from the situation.
The word "whatsit" is an informal placeholder for an object whose real name is unknown, forgotten, or simply not important at that moment. It belongs to everyday speech, not formal or technical writing, and people use it when they want to keep talking without stopping to find the exact word.
You will often hear it for tools, parts, gadgets, or other ordinary things, especially when the speaker can point to the object or expects the listener to understand from context. Someone might ask for the "whatsit" on the shelf, talk about the little "whatsit" that fixes a bike, or refer to an unfamiliar device as a "whatsit" until they learn its proper name. In that way, the word works much like "thingamajig," "doohickey," or "whatchamacallit."
The charm of "whatsit" is that it is simple, flexible, and easy to understand. It lets people communicate even when the exact vocabulary is missing for a second. You would not normally use it in a report, manual, or other precise writing, but it sounds natural in conversation. In short, it is a friendly, vague word for "that thing there" when the real name is not ready in your mind.
Examples
- 1
Everyday object
Pass me that little plastic whatsit by the sink, will you?
- 2
Forgotten name
I can never remember the name of the part that holds the shelf up, so I just call it the whatsit.
- 3
Assembly parts
The manual was full of screws, clips, and other tiny whatsits, and I was afraid of losing one.
See also
Forms and spellings
1 form open this card.
Main spelling
- whatsit