What does whatsit mean?
Whatsit is an informal noun for a thing whose name or identity is unknown or unstated. It is chiefly British and often feels deliberately vague: “Pass me that whatsit” means the speaker knows exactly which object is meant but does not wish to name it. A whatsit may also refer to an unspecified person, though this use can sound dismissive or rude. The word developed in 19th-century English from a spoken reduction of “what is it,” and it is also commonly written “what's-it.” Unlike a relatively precise synonym such as gadget, whatsit emphasizes the speaker's inability or unwillingness to identify the referent. In informal writing it can add a dismissive, playful, or mildly impatient tone, especially in phrases such as “some whatsit or other.” Its value lies in everyday speech, where naming something precisely may be unnecessary, awkward, or simply less natural than referring to it informally.
nounAn unnamed or unspecified thing. It may also refer to an unspecified person, usually in a dismissive or impatient sense.
- An unnamed or unspecified thing.
- An unspecified person, especially when the speaker is being dismissive or impatient.
"Can you pass me that whatsit on the table?"
"Can you pass me that whatsit on the table?"
"I don't know who that whatsit is, but he certainly has an opinion."
Usually countable, though it is commonly used in the singular to refer to an unnamed thing or person.
"The children hid behind all the whatsits in the classroom."
Whatsit is the verbal equivalent of pointing and saying, “You know the one”—without naming it.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of whatsit
The word dates from 19th-century English and arose as a colloquial alteration of the spoken question “what's it?”, meaning “what is it?”. The exact mechanism of formation is not entirely certain, but the one-word spelling reflects its spoken origin. The element what belongs to the English interrogative family represented by whatever and somewhat, while whatnot also contains what historically.
How whatsit is actually used
This is an informal, mainly spoken word. Referring to a person as a whatsit can sound rude, while referring to an object may convey mild annoyance, uncertainty, or a playful reluctance to name something.
Easily confused with whatsit
A whatsit is one unspecified thing or person, whereas whatnot commonly means an indefinite assortment of unspecified things.