noun

shebang

shih-BANG

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Shebang (noun) means Informal: the whole thing; every part of a situation or undertaking (usually "the whole shebang"). Example: “They rented a marquee, a live band, fireworks — the whole shebang.”

noun

Informal: the whole thing; every part of a situation or undertaking (usually "the whole shebang").

"They rented a marquee, a live band, fireworks — the whole shebang."

In computing, the "#!" characters at the start of a script that tell the system which program should run it.

"The script starts with the shebang line #!/bin/bash so the system knows to run it with Bash."

How to use shebang

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishCasually, "everything included"; technically, the special line at the top of a script file.

When to use it

The "whole shebang" sense is informal, mostly spoken American English.

Common pairings

the whole shebang shebang line

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C2 · Advanced serendipity Fortunate discoveries made entirely by accident.

Gen Z slang rizz Charm — the ability to attract a romantic interest.

B2 · Intermediate empathy The capacity to share another person’s feelings.

C1 · Advanced nonchalant Casually calm and relaxed; unconcerned.

Internet slang delulu Delusional — believing something against the odds.

Etymology nostalgia Greek nostos “return home” + algos “pain”.

C2 · Advanced serendipity Fortunate discoveries made entirely by accident.

Gen Z slang rizz Charm — the ability to attract a romantic interest.

B2 · Intermediate empathy The capacity to share another person’s feelings.

C1 · Advanced nonchalant Casually calm and relaxed; unconcerned.

Internet slang delulu Delusional — believing something against the odds.

Etymology nostalgia Greek nostos “return home” + algos “pain”.

Word forms

Plural: shebangs

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Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

They rented a marquee, a live band, fireworks — the whole _____.

Etymology

Origin unclear — the word surfaces in 1850s America meaning a shelter or ramshackle building, likely influenced by "shebeen" (an unlicensed Irish drinking house); the computing sense is unrelated and much later.

Origin: Irish · First attested 1850

Class of 1850 shebang joined the language around 1850.

Bunsen capitalism goner Indonesia opt

See the full Class of 1850 →

Frequently asked questions

What does “shebang” mean?

The word “shebang” means informal: the whole thing; every part of a situation or undertaking (usually "the whole shebang"). In plain terms, casually, "everything included"; technically, the special line at the top of a script file.

How do you pronounce “shebang”?

“Shebang” is pronounced shih-BANG (/ʃɪˈbæŋ(ɡ)/ in IPA).

How do you use “shebang” in a sentence?

Here is “shebang” used in a sentence: “They rented a marquee, a live band, fireworks — the whole shebang.”

What part of speech is “shebang”?

“Shebang” is a noun.

Where does the word “shebang” come from?

The word “shebang” dates back to around 1850 and comes from Irish. Origin unclear — the word surfaces in 1850s America meaning a shelter or ramshackle building, likely influenced by "shebeen" (an unlicensed Irish drinking house); the computing sense is unrelated and much later.

How many meanings does “shebang” have?

“Shebang” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: informal: the whole thing; every part of a situation or undertaking (usually "the whole shebang").

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Words with Celtic origins