whatchamacallit
Whatchamacallit (noun) means an informal word for an object whose name you can't remember or don't know. Example: “Pass me the whatchamacallit, the thing that opens jars.”
How to use whatchamacallit
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA playful stand-in word for "thing" when the real name has slipped your mind.
Very informal and spoken — never used in formal writing.
Word forms
whatchamacallits plural, whatchamacallem plural, whatchamacall'em plural
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
Pass me the _____, the thing that opens jars.
Etymology
A run-together, shortened form of "what you may call it," first recorded in the early 1920s in the United States.
Synonyms
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Frequently asked questions
What does “whatchamacallit” mean?
The word “whatchamacallit” means an informal word for an object whose name you can't remember or don't know. In plain terms, a playful stand-in word for "thing" when the real name has slipped your mind.
How do you pronounce “whatchamacallit”?
“Whatchamacallit” is pronounced WOT-shuh-muh-kaw-liht (/ˈwʌt͡ʃəməˌkɔlɪt/ in IPA).
How do you use “whatchamacallit” in a sentence?
Here is “whatchamacallit” used in a sentence: “Pass me the whatchamacallit, the thing that opens jars.”
What part of speech is “whatchamacallit”?
“Whatchamacallit” is a noun.
Where does the word “whatchamacallit” come from?
The word “whatchamacallit” dates back to around 1920. A run-together, shortened form of "what you may call it," first recorded in the early 1920s in the United States.