which

1 of 3

adjective

ˈ(h)wich 

1

: being what one or ones out of a group

—used as an interrogative

which tie should I wear

kept a record of which employees took their vacations in July

2

: whichever

it will not fit, turn it which way you like

3

—used as a function word to introduce a nonrestrictive relative clause and to modify a noun in that clause and to refer together with that noun to a word or word group in a preceding clause or to an entire preceding clause or sentence or longer unit of discourse

… in German, which language might … have been the medium of transmission …

—Thomas Pyles

that this city is a rebellious city …  : for which cause was this city destroyed

—Ezra 4:15 (King James Version)

which

2 of 3

pronoun

1

: what one or ones out of a group

—used as an interrogative

which of those houses do you live in

which of you want tea and which want lemonade

he is swimming or canoeing, I don't know which

2

: whichever

take which you like

3

—used as a function word to introduce a relative clause

—used in any grammatical relation except that of a possessive

—used especially in reference to animals, inanimate objects, groups, or ideas

The bonds which represent the debt …

—G. B. Robinson

the Samnite tribes, which settled south and southeast of Rome

—Ernst Pulgram

—used freely in reference to persons as recently as the 17th century,

Our Father which art in heaven …

—Matthew 6:9 (King James Version)

and still occasionally so used but usually with some implication of emphasis on the function or role of the person rather than on the person as such

… represented the famous three little men, which advertise Atlantic gasoline.

—B. Franklin Eshleman, (letter)

—used by speakers on all educational levels and by many reputable writers, though disapproved by some grammarians, in reference to an idea expressed by a word or group of words that is not necessarily a noun or noun phrase

… he resigned that post, after which he engaged in ranching …

—Current Biography

That vs. Which: Usage Guide

That and which are both used to introduce a restrictive clause, i.e., a clause that can't be removed without changing the sentence's meaning substantially or making the sentence incomplete or difficult to understand. In "The cake that/which they served was pink," the restrictive clause is "that/which they served." To remove it renders the sentence incomplete: what cake was pink? Which is used to introduce a nonrestrictive clause, i.e., a clause that adds information to the sentence but isn't essential for understanding the sentence's basic idea. In "The cake, which was delicious, was pink" the clause "which was delicious" adds nonessential information; we still know that the cake being discussed was pink. That formerly did this job as well, especially in poetry, but the use is now rare.

which

3 of 3

conjunction

informal

—used as an introductory particle (see particle sense 4) before a word or phrase that is a reaction to or commentary on the previous clause

I have a very big reputation in Vancouver for being a sore loser, which, fair enough.

—Ilona Verley

This morning we have the monthly jobs report, which who knows if it will meet or beat expectations.

—Todd 'Bubba' Horwitz

Scientists have discovered the bones of a three-foot-tall, 15-pound parrot that lived some 16 million years ago. The remains had initially been misidentified as those of an "enormous, possibly human-eating eagle," which … yikes.

—Oliver Roeder

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

Middle English, of what kind, which, from Old English hwilc; akin to Old High German wilīh of what kind, which, Old English hwā who, gelīk like — more at who, like

First Known Use

Adjective

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Pronoun

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Conjunction

1723, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing which

• every which way
• in which case
• know which side one's bread is buttered on
• stick with which to beat (someone)
• the degree to which
• which is to say
• which is which
• which way the wind is blowing

Rhymes for which

• bitch
• ditch
• fiche
• glitch
• hitch
• ich
• itch
• kitsch
• lich
• mitch
• niche
• pitch

Kids Definition

which

1 of 2 adjective

(ˈ)hwich 

(ˈ)wich

1

: being what one or ones

which tie should I wear

knew which people had paid

2

: whichever

it will not fit, turn it which way you like

which

2 of 2 pronoun

1

: what one or ones out of a group

which of those houses do you live in

they are swimming or canoeing, I don't know which

2

: whichever

take which you like

3

—used to introduce a clause referring to something other than human beings

the books which we bought