thingy
Americannoun
adjective
Usage
What does thingy mean? Whachamacallit is a very informal word for an object whose name you don’t know, have forgotten, or can’t recall at the moment. It’s often used to refer to gadgets or parts of things that might not even have a commonly known name, as in Before we attach the bracket, we have to insert this thingy here. Thingy is sometimes used even if you know the name of the thing you’re referring to, as in I’ve got a whole boxful of these thingies—take as many as you want. The word is also sometimes used to refer to things that are not physical objects, such as events, types of media, or abstract concepts. Thingy is often used with a modifier describing the kind of thing, as in Where’s that plastic thingy? or I have to attend a work thingy tonight. The word thinger can be used in the same way. There are several other similarly informal words that are used in the same way, including thingamajig, thingamabob, thingy, whachamacallit, whatsit, doohickey, and doodad. Example: My kids got me one of those thingies that track your steps. What’s it called? A stepometer?
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
Etymology
Origin of thingy
1885–90 thingy for def. 1; 1890–95 thingy for def. 2; thing 1 + -y 2, -y 1
Explanation
Any item — usually a small object — whose name you can't remember (or just don't know) can be called a thingy. Obviously, it's some sort of thing, but adding a -y is almost like giving it a friendly nickname. The word thingy sounds cutesy, but it's a useful word when you're stuck. Don't know the name of that tool in the drawer, but you need it to get the last olive out of the skinny jar? Ask me if I'll hand you the thingy with the blue handle. Chances are I'll look in the drawer and see what you mean! Thingies often need a little description. If I ask for one of those stretchy thingies used to make a ponytail, would you understand?
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.
See Examples For:
Consider the overbalance of gloss-black surfaces—not just the grille form but the roof, roof racks, roof pillars, bumpers, mirror caps, rear diffuser thingy, deep-tinted rear glass and heavy window masking.
From The Wall Street Journal ● May 30, 2026
About that whatever-it-is tournament thingy, he would have said, not in his rafters.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jan. 26, 2025
Prey Rated R for flesh-eating rats, rapacious Frenchmen and a thingy from outer space.
From New York Times ● Aug. 4, 2022
“Didn’t the contest nearly go horribly wrong in the summer,” emails Andrew Benton, “when Verstappen’s wheel went over the top of Lewis’ cockpit, his life being saved by the new protrusion thingy?
From The Guardian ● Dec. 12, 2021
The bottom part they had in some kind of sling-contraption thingy, to keep it from moving.
From "Patina" by Jason Reynolds
Those egg thingies with roe were so good.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 5, 2026
Shira: Seriously, WHY do you have so many smart home thingies?
From Washington Post ● Jan. 6, 2023
What I needed were those blue absorbent paper thingies the hospital supplied by the score.
From Slate ● Jul. 31, 2018
"Is that one of those iWatch thingies?" is a common question from those who have noticed you're using a watch for payments.
From The Verge ● Mar. 15, 2016
Like I was wearing one of those prisoner leg bracelet thingies that’d send a signal to Mom and Dad the second I got within a quarter mile of his house.
From "P.S. I Miss You" by Jen Petro-Roy
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
