doodad

noun

doo·​dad ˈdü-ˌdad 

1

: an ornamental attachment or decoration

2

: an often small article whose common name is unknown or forgotten : gadget

Synonyms

• dingus
• doohickey
• hickey
• thingamabob
• thingamajig
• thingumajig
• thingummy
• whatchamacallit
• whatnot
• whatsit
• whatsis
• what-is-it

Examples of doodad in a Sentence

where does this little doodad go?

has a habit of buying gadgets and doodads sold on television shopping channels

Recent Examples on the Web

The kitchen, where visitors can rifle through drawers and cabinets filled with Tupperware, aluminum serving dishes and other modern doodads available to postwar home cooks, is a year-round attraction. —Paul Eisenberg, Chicago Tribune, 9 Feb. 2025

First, there’s gear, or technology—the gadgets and doodads that must stash in your carryon alongside a laptop and cellphone. —Mark Ellwood, Robb Report, 7 Feb. 2025

Sprinkled among the tens of thousands of holiday doodads are pieces of family history that Brown holds dearer to his heart than any of the Christmas adornments that have a high monetary value. —Lennie Omalza, The Courier-Journal, 12 Dec. 2024

Picture a gloved dental hygienist, sticking a metal pick and a suction doodad in your mouth, casually chitchatting while you’re stuck staring at the ceiling. —Celia Ford, Vox, 3 Mar. 2025

Word History

Etymology

origin unknown

First Known Use

1888, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for doodad

• comrade
• dryad
• dyad
• forbad
• grandad
• granddad
• keypad
• nomad
• notepad
• postgrad
• sinbad
• tetrad