noun
Uncommon
Sherlock
SHURR-lok
Sherlock (noun) means a detective, or (often sarcastic) a term for someone who has just pointed out something obvious. Example: “He's late again," she said. "No kidding, Sherlock.”
noun
1
A detective, or (often sarcastic) a term for someone who has just pointed out something obvious.
""He's late again," she said. "No kidding, Sherlock.""
verb
1
To figure something out through careful deduction.
"He sherlocked the missing wallet down to a jacket pocket in seconds."
2
In computing, for a company to build a native feature into its operating system or app that replaces a similar feature previously offered only by third-party software.
"Developers worried Apple would sherlock their app's core feature in the next OS update."
How to use Sherlock
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishNamed after the famous fictional detective; used for detective-like deduction, or sarcastically toward someone stating the obvious, and in tech circles for a platform swallowing a third-party feature.
Common mistake
"No sh*t, Sherlock" and similar sarcastic uses are informal — don't use in formal writing.
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Word forms
- Plural
- Sherlocks
- Third person singular
- Sherlocks
- Past tense
- Sherlocked
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
"He's late again," she said. "No kidding, _____."
Etymology
From the fictional detective Sherlock Holmes. The computing sense comes from Apple's "Sherlock" search tool, which in 2002 absorbed features from a smaller rival program, Watson.
Synonyms
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Rhymes for Sherlock
See all rhymes for Sherlock →Frequently asked questions
What does “Sherlock” mean?
The word “Sherlock” means a detective, or (often sarcastic) a term for someone who has just pointed out something obvious. In plain terms, named after the famous fictional detective; used for detective-like deduction, or sarcastically toward someone stating the obvious, and in tech circles for a platform swallowing a third-party feature.
How do you pronounce “Sherlock”?
“Sherlock” is pronounced SHURR-lok (/ˈʃɜɹ.lɒk/ in IPA).
How do you use “Sherlock” in a sentence?
Here is “Sherlock” used in a sentence: “"He's late again," she said. "No kidding, Sherlock.".”
What part of speech is “Sherlock”?
Depending on how it is used, “Sherlock” can be a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “Sherlock” come from?
The word “Sherlock” dates back to around 2002. From the fictional detective Sherlock Holmes. The computing sense comes from Apple's "Sherlock" search tool, which in 2002 absorbed features from a smaller rival program, Watson.
Is “Sherlock” a common word?
“Sherlock” is an uncommon word in modern English.
How many meanings does “Sherlock” have?
“Sherlock” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a detective, or (often sarcastic) a term for someone who has just pointed out something obvious.
What does it mean to "Sherlock" an app?
In computing, to Sherlock an app means a platform owner, such as Apple or Microsoft, builds a native feature into its operating system or software that duplicates a feature previously offered only by a third-party app. The term is often used when the third-party developer loses business because the built-in version makes their app redundant.
Is "Sherlock" always used sarcastically?
No. As a noun it can neutrally mean a detective or someone skilled at deduction, but it is very often used sarcastically, as in "No, Sherlock," aimed at someone who has just stated something obvious. Context and tone determine which sense applies.
Where does the term "Sherlocked" in tech come from?
The computing sense of "Sherlock" as a verb comes from the name Sherlock, referencing the way a built-in feature effectively investigates and absorbs the role of an existing third-party tool. It is used specifically when a native OS or app feature replaces functionality that outside developers had previously provided.
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