whatnot

1 of 2

pronoun

what·​not

ˈ(h)wät-ˌnät,

ˈ(h)wət- 

: any of various other things that might also be mentioned

paper clips, pins, and whatnot

whatnot

2 of 2

noun

1

: a nondescript person or thing

2

: a light open set of shelves for bric-a-brac

Synonyms

Pronoun

• whatever
• anything
• what have you

Noun

• what-is-it
• thingamajig
• whatsit
• whatsis
• whatchamacallit
• doohickey
• thingamabob

Examples of whatnot in a Sentence

Pronoun

You can use the container to hold paper clips, pins, and whatnot.

the drawer is full of spare pens, paper clips, stray elastics and whatnot

Noun

the store sells an array of whatnots for the do-it-yourself plumber

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

There are many immigrants who have lived and worked here for years, have paid taxes, bought cars, appliances, other whatnots and have contributed to this country’s economy. —Reader Commentary, Baltimore Sun, 19 Aug. 2025

In town, people said that Roland must have got caught up in drug-taking and whatnot and kept bad company. —Miriam Toews, New Yorker, 17 Aug. 2025

Then of course, there’s new media like YouTube and whatnot. —Joan MacDonald, Forbes.com, 22 July 2025

The middle turned a couple of double plays and whatnot. —Jeff Vorva, Chicago Tribune, 19 July 2025

Word History

Etymology

Pronoun

what not?

First Known Use

Pronoun

1540, in the meaning defined above

Noun

1602, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for whatnot

• allot
• barat
• begot
• besought
• bethought
• bloodshot
• boycott
• buckshot
• crackpot
• croat
• culottes
• dashpot

Kids Definition

whatnot

1 of 2 pronoun

what·​not ˈhwät-ˌnät 

ˈhwət-,

ˈwät-,

ˈwət-

: any of various other things that might also be mentioned

hummingbirds and hawks and owls and whatnot

whatnot

2 of 2 noun

: a light open set of shelves