whatchamacallit

noun

what·​cha·​ma·​call·​it ˈ(h)wä-chə-mə-ˌkȯ-lət  ˈ(h)wə- 

plural whatchamacallits

informal

: something that is hard to classify or whose name is unknown or forgotten : thingamajig

… dozens of multi-colored plastic thingies, metal gizmos in various shapes and a rubber whatchamacallit with a hole in the middle.

—Dick Wolfsie

Joni had reached the point in her life when the wrong words flew out of her mouth. And when she tried to find the correct word, it inexplicably vanished. "Where's the whatchamacallit?"

—PRWeb.com

Synonyms

• dingus
• doodad
• doohickey
• hickey
• thingamabob
• thingamajig
• thingumajig
• thingummy
• whatnot
• whatsit
• whatsis
• what-is-it

Examples of whatchamacallit in a Sentence

I can't find the whatchamacallit that holds the door open.

I need one of those whatchamacallits to connect the two patch cords.

Recent Examples on the Web

Also: how in the name of Philadelphia Flyers hockey legend Bobby Clarke did this show get Gritty, the giant orange whatchamacallit who is the Flyers mascot, as its opening night guest star? —Gene Seymour, CNN, 22 Sep. 2022

The ranking only includes the 193 breeds that the AKC recognizes, so unfortunately, mixed breeds like maltipoos, goldendoodles and whatchamacallits aren't on it. —Aj Willingham, CNN, 9 May 2020

Fired on Wednesday by Toronto, Mike Babcock will have plenty of time to rest and recharge before the Totems, er, the whatchamacallits, drop the puck for their inaugural season in 2021. —Ross McKeon, SFChronicle.com, 22 Nov. 2019

Word History

Etymology

alteration of what you may call it

First Known Use

1910, in the meaning defined above