: any of various other things that might also be mentioned
paper clips, pins, and whatnot
1
: a nondescript person or thing
2
: a light open set of shelves for bric-a-brac
Synonyms
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
Andrew Van Dam, Washington Post, 15 Mar. 2024
So all the actors whose characters died would’ve been back as themselves and whatnot?
—Brian Davids, The Hollywood Reporter, 7 Mar. 2024
Although Fleischmann and Gehry were close friends, Gehry was viewed as far too radical for the conservative classical music establishment, which feared chain-link fences and whatnot.
—Mark Swed, Los Angeles Times, 25 Feb. 2024
Audi engineers have had some fun fettling the underpinnings of the GT, which, with all the ministrations of carbon fiber, carbon-ceramic brakes, and whatnot, loses a mere 33 pounds and weighs in at a still substantial 4,565 pounds.
—Robert Ross, Robb Report, 6 Feb. 2024
We were all done with COVID and politics and whatnot, and there was this pink, delicious movie that has so much to say.
—Mia Galuppo, The Hollywood Reporter, 18 Dec. 2023
Lombardozzi and the other male cast members are effective, however few glimpses are given into their money laundering, murders and whatnot.
—Dennis Harvey, Variety, 10 Dec. 2023
Whenever there’s a coveted role in town, your name comes up in rumors and whatnot.
—Brian Davids, The Hollywood Reporter, 8 Dec. 2023
All told, using one’s voice to power on and off A/V gear and the like can prove to be far more accessible than manually switching inputs or whatnot.
—Steven Aquino, Forbes, 30 Nov. 2023
Noun
About 1,100 of those DHS dogs sniff bags and whatnot for the Transportation Security Administration, otherwise known as everyone’s airport security friend, the TSA.
—Andrew Van Dam, Washington Post, 15 Mar. 2024
So all the actors whose characters died would’ve been back as themselves and whatnot?
—Brian Davids, The Hollywood Reporter, 7 Mar. 2024
Although Fleischmann and Gehry were close friends, Gehry was viewed as far too radical for the conservative classical music establishment, which feared chain-link fences and whatnot.
—Mark Swed, Los Angeles Times, 25 Feb. 2024
Audi engineers have had some fun fettling the underpinnings of the GT, which, with all the ministrations of carbon fiber, carbon-ceramic brakes, and whatnot, loses a mere 33 pounds and weighs in at a still substantial 4,565 pounds.
—Robert Ross, Robb Report, 6 Feb. 2024
We were all done with COVID and politics and whatnot, and there was this pink, delicious movie that has so much to say.
—Mia Galuppo, The Hollywood Reporter, 18 Dec. 2023
Lombardozzi and the other male cast members are effective, however few glimpses are given into their money laundering, murders and whatnot.
—Dennis Harvey, Variety, 10 Dec. 2023
Whenever there’s a coveted role in town, your name comes up in rumors and whatnot.
—Brian Davids, The Hollywood Reporter, 8 Dec. 2023
All told, using one’s voice to power on and off A/V gear and the like can prove to be far more accessible than manually switching inputs or whatnot.
—Steven Aquino, Forbes, 30 Nov. 2023
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'whatnot.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near whatnot
Cite this Entry
“Whatnot.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/whatnot. Accessed 23 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationKids 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
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share