SINCE 1828

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doohickey

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noun doo·hick·ey \ ˈdü-ˌhi-kē \

Definition of doohickey

plural doohickeys also doohickies

:doodad 2

See doohickey defined for English-language learners

Examples of doohickey in a Sentence

screw in the doohickey at the top of the lamp shade

Recent Examples of doohickey from the Web

In the original series, Dr. Bones McCoy would scan this — not to get too technical — doohickey that resembled a Polaroid SX-70 camera mated with one of those gizmos that spits out parking tickets and instantly diagnosed a patient’s ills.

— the washington post, The Denver Post, "A ‘Star Trek’-inspired gizmo could win its inventors $9 million," 2 Apr. 2017
Levi’s claims to have the answer with its new Dockers Mobile Pants, which have special deep, wide pockets for electronic doohickeys.

— leander kahney, WIRED, "Gadgets, Vests and Pants, Oh My!," 6 Sep. 2001

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'doohickey.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of doohickey

probably from doodad + hickey

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1914

See Words from the same year

doohickey Synonyms

Synonyms

dingus, doodad, hickey, thingamabob, thingamajig (or thingumajig), thingummy, whatchamacallit, whatnot, whatsit (also whatsis or what-is-it)

DOOHICKEY Defined for English Language Learners

doohickey

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noun

Definition of doohickey for English Language Learners

: an object or device whose name you do not know or have forgotten

Learn More about doohickey

See words that rhyme with doohickey Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for doohickey

Seen and Heard

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WORD OF THE DAY

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agreeable, attractive, or delicious

BROWSE DICTIONARY

doofunny

doofus

doohickey

dook

dool

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Examples: doohickey in a Sentence