variants
or catch-all
plural catchalls or catch-alls
: something designed or serving to catch, hold, account for, or include miscellaneous items or a wide variety of things
The secret weapon for battling kitchen clutter in this case is a simple tray. … The trays act as catch-alls or places to neatly store anything that gets left out.—
Marie Rossiter
Marie RossiterAfter a period of rapidly rising consumer prices, "inflation" is a catchall for economic woes.—Edward Lotterman
—often used before another nounEdward Lottermana catchall bin
… long COVID, the catchall term for the sometimes debilitating health problems that can last for months or years after even a mild case of COVID-19.—Lauran Neergaard
Lauran NeergaardExamples of catchall in a Sentence
They used the drawer as a catchall for kitchen items.
“The arts” is a catchall for a variety of activities from painting to music.
Recent Examples on the Web
However, this isn’t a specific species but rather a common name or catchall term people use when describing tiny ants such as the odorous house ant or little black ant, says Benson.
—Arricca Elin Sansone, Southern Living, 23 Sep. 2025
For years, critics in the United States and Europe have been skeptical of the catchall concept of the global South, dismissing it as an impossibly broad label to apply to a diverse collection of more than 100 postcolonial and developing countries.
—Stewart Patrick, Foreign Affairs, 18 Sep. 2025
Candle jars and containers make great catchalls and jewelry dishes.
—Claire Hoppe Norgaard, Better Homes & Gardens, 17 Sep. 2025
What You’re Left With: Decked with dreamy illustrations from Nephthys Foster, the keepsake box would make delightful wrapping for another gift—or keep it as a catchall for TSA-friendly products.
—Jenny Berg, Vogue, 2 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for catchall
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Arricca Elin Sansone, Southern Living, 23 Sep. 2025
For years, critics in the United States and Europe have been skeptical of the catchall concept of the global South, dismissing it as an impossibly broad label to apply to a diverse collection of more than 100 postcolonial and developing countries.
—Stewart Patrick, Foreign Affairs, 18 Sep. 2025
Candle jars and containers make great catchalls and jewelry dishes.
—Claire Hoppe Norgaard, Better Homes & Gardens, 17 Sep. 2025
What You’re Left With: Decked with dreamy illustrations from Nephthys Foster, the keepsake box would make delightful wrapping for another gift—or keep it as a catchall for TSA-friendly products.
—Jenny Berg, Vogue, 2 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for catchall
Cite this Entry
“Catchall.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/catchall. Accessed 29 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
catchall
noun
catch·all
ˈkach-ˌȯl 
ˈkech-
: something to hold a variety of odds and ends
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