catchall
Americannoun
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a bag, basket, or other receptacle for odds and ends.
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something that covers a wide variety of items or situations.
The list is just a catchall of things I want to see or do on vacation.
adjective
Etymology
Origin of catchall
1830–40, noun use of verb phrase catch all
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
That’s the catchall loophole for saying, ‘Do we want this to be part of our game?’
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 12, 2026
Still, weight-loss drugs—a catchall term for Lilly’s family of GLP-1 medications—have continued to dominate the conversation.
From Barron's ● Apr. 30, 2026
So far, the watchword of the invisible primary this time around seems to be “affordability,” a catchall term for Americans’ sense that life—everything from housing and childcare to groceries and gas—has gotten too expensive.
From Slate ● Mar. 25, 2026
Article 133 covers dishonorable conduct, while Article 134 is the catchall provision criminalizing conduct that is harmful to good order and discipline or brings discredit on the armed forces.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jan. 5, 2026
Antisocial personality, though it described plenty of guys on R-and-W, seemed also to serve as a catchall for problem inmates who couldn’t otherwise be categorized.
From "Newjack: Guarding Sing Sing" by Ted Conover
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Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
