wherewithal

1 of 3

noun

where·​with·​al ˈ(h)wer-wi-ˌt͟hȯl  -ˌthȯl 

: means, resources

specifically : money

didn't have the wherewithal for an expensive dinner

wherewithal

2 of 3

conjunction

: wherewith

wherewithal

3 of 3

pronoun

: wherewith

Did you know?

Wherewithal comes from where and withal (meaning "with"), and it has been used as a conjunction meaning "with or by means of which" and as a pronoun meaning "that with or by which." These days, however, it is almost always used as a noun referring to the means or resources a person has at one's disposal—especially financial resources.

Synonyms

Noun

• bankroll
• coffers
• exchequer
• finances
• fund
• pocket
• resources

Examples of wherewithal in a Sentence

Noun

A project as big as this requires a lot of financial wherewithal.

He doesn't have the wherewithal to finish what he started.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

The other side: Stress tests are meant to assess if banks had the wherewithal to keep lending during extreme, hypothetical economic backdrops. —Courtenay Brown, Axios, 2 Jan. 2025

But the current results do show that a species that came of age exploring its own planet may well have the temperamental and neurological wherewithal to go much farther—for much longer. —Jeffrey Kluger, TIME, 29 Dec. 2024

Many next of kin lack the ready cash, or the wherewithal to navigate the legal process to waive the fee. —Corinne Purtill, Los Angeles Times, 15 Dec. 2024

Most residents were working class and deeply rooted, without the wherewithal to chase jobs elsewhere. —John Branch, New York Times, 24 Nov. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Conjunction

where + withal entry 2

First Known Use

Noun

1809, in the meaning defined above

Conjunction

1534, in the meaning defined above

Pronoun

1583, in the meaning defined above

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Kids Definition

wherewithal

noun

where·​with·​al

ˈhwe(ə)r-wit͟h-ˌȯl,

ˈhwa(ə)r-,

ˈwe(ə)r-,

ˈwa(ə)r-,

-with-

: wealth sense 1, resources

especially : money sense 1b

the wherewithal to buy a house