What does whatnot mean?
Whatnot is an informal English word used most often as an indefinite pronoun or noun for an unspecified collection of things. In sentences such as “I bought fruit, bread, and whatnot,” it stands for additional, unnamed items without implying that the list is complete. It can also refer to one unspecified thing, while an older, literary use means “anything except” or “everything but.” A separate chiefly dialectal adverbial sense means “not at all” or “certainly not.” The word is especially familiar in British English and is also understood in American English, where it may sound slightly less usual. Its usefulness lies in its conversational economy: a speaker can gesture broadly toward a vague category or an open-ended list without itemizing every member. Whatnot can also sound dismissive when used to brush aside details, so context and tone matter.
A miscellaneous collection of assorted things.
"The charity shop was full of china, clocks, and whatnot."
The plural whatnots is uncommon; the word is normally used collectively without a plural.
An unspecified thing, or an indefinite range of things, often used to refer generally to miscellaneous additional items. In older literary usage, it can mean “anything except” or “everything but.”
"He promised advice, encouragement, and whatnot."
The miscellaneous-item use is informal and especially common in British English.
Not at all; certainly not.
"Whatnot, I never said that."
This sense is chiefly dialectal and is uncommon in standard formal English.
The plural is uncommon because whatnot is normally used as an indefinite pronoun or collectively in the phrase “and whatnot.”
"The charity shop was full of old maps, tools, and other whatnots."
Once meaning “everything except,” whatnot became a handy label for “all sorts of unspecified things”—a negation that ended up gathering an entire collection.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of whatnot
Whatnot is an English compound of the interrogative pronoun what and the negative particle not. It is attested from the late 16th century in the sense “anything except; everything but”; its later use for unspecified things or a miscellaneous collection developed from that foundation. Its formation parallels other English words built on the same interrogative base, including whatever, whatsoever, and somewhat.
Related word forms
How whatnot is actually used
The miscellaneous-item and indefinite uses are informal and particularly familiar in British English; American speakers also understand them, but the word may sound somewhat marked. The “anything except” sense is now literary or archaic, while “not at all” is chiefly dialectal.
Easily confused with whatnot
Whatever asks which thing or things may apply, whereas whatnot refers without identifying them and often means miscellaneous items.