What does whatness mean?
Whatness is an uncommon English noun that names the essential nature or identity of a person, thing, place, or situation. Rather than naming a quality in detail, it points to the question of what something fundamentally is: its essence, character, or underlying mode of being. The word is chiefly literary and philosophical, and appears especially in discussions of identity, ontology, aesthetics, and critical theory. It can carry an abstract, slightly formal tone, but it is also useful when precision matters and a fuller phrase would obscure the point. For example, writing about a painting, a critic might ask whether its changing colors alter the very whatness of the depicted scene. In ordinary conversation, however, “what it is” or “its nature” will usually sound more natural. Whatness is memorable because it compresses a philosophical problem into one vivid noun.
nounThe essential nature, identity, or quality of a person, thing, place, or situation. It names what something fundamentally is, rather than any particular quality it possesses.
- The essential nature, identity, or underlying character of a person, thing, place, or situation.
"The curator asked whether the restoration had altered the very whatness of the ancient manuscript."
"Her essay considers the shifting whatness of identity in a society shaped by migration."
"For the philosopher, the difficulty lay in defining the whatness of consciousness itself."
The plural is possible but rare; whatness is normally used in the singular.
"The essays distinguish several competing whatnesses of justice."
Whatness asks the ultimate question in one word: what is this, really?
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of whatness
Whatness was formed in English from the pronoun “what” and the productive noun-forming suffix “-ness,” so its literal sense is “the quality of being what something is.” The base word “what” descends from Old English hwæt, while the suffix developed from Old English -nys and was later generalized as a way of forming abstract nouns in English. Words such as “whatever,” “whatsoever,” and the archaic “whatsome” share the same verbal base.
How whatness is actually used
Whatness is uncommon, literary, and philosophical rather than conversational. Its abstract formality suits essays and criticism, especially when discussing identity, essence, ontology, or aesthetics; in everyday speech, “nature” or “essence” will usually be more natural.
Easily confused with whatness
“Whats” is the plural of “what,” whereas “whatness” is a noun denoting something's essential nature or identity.