whatnot

1 of 2

pronoun

what·​not
ˈ(h)wät-ˌnät,
ˈ(h)wət- How to pronounce whatnot (audio)
: any of various other things that might also be mentioned
paper clips, pins, and whatnot

whatnot

2 of 2

noun

1
: a nondescript person or thing
2
: a light open set of shelves for bric-a-brac

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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Noun
Our kids mingle a lot, do different play dates and activities and our wives and whatnot. Eric Nehm, The Athletic, 22 Feb. 2025 That could mean some changes in lines and pairings and whatnot. Stephen Whyno, Chicago Tribune, 14 Feb. 2025 Given absolute access to notes and the sound files and to see rehearsals and soundchecks and whatnot. Mike Ryan, IndieWire, 22 Jan. 2025 Even with the rain and associated road noise (splashing and whatnot), the cabin of the Q6 E-Tron was a serene space. Andy Biggs, Newsweek, 24 Dec. 2024 See All Example Sentences for whatnot

Word History

Etymology

Pronoun

what not?

First Known Use

Pronoun

1540, in the meaning defined above

Noun

1602, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of whatnot was in 1540

Browse Nearby Entries

Cite this Entry

“Whatnot.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/whatnot. Accessed 1 Mar. 2025.

Kids Definition

whatnot

1 of 2 pronoun
what·​not ˈhwät-ˌnät How to pronounce whatnot (audio)
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

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