whatsoever

American  

[hwuht-soh-ev-er, hwot-, wuht-, wot-] / ˌʰwʌt soʊˈɛv ər, ˌʰwɒt-, ˌwʌt-, ˌwɒt- /

pronoun

1. (an intensive form ofwhatever ).

   whatsoever it be; in any place whatsoever.

---

whatsoever British  

/ ˌwɒtsəʊˈɛvə /

adjective

1. (postpositive) at all: used as an intensifier with indefinite pronouns and determiners such as none, any, no one, anybody , etc

---

pronoun

1. an archaic word for whatever

Etymology

Origin of whatsoever

1200–50; Middle English, equivalent to what so whatever ( Old English swā hwæt swā ) + ever ever

Explanation

The word whatsoever is an old-fashioned way to emphasize a point. If you have no clue whatsoever who ate all the ice cream that was in the freezer, it means you truly have no idea at all who the culprit is. If you say that you have no doubt whatsoever that your cousin could be a model, you are placing emphasis on the fact that you're sure she's tall and thin enough to do the job. Whatsoever, originally quuat-so-euere, was first used in the thirteenth century, and while it's rare these days, it eventually led to the more modern and extremely popular word whatever.

Example Sentences

“There was absolutely no problem whatsoever, none whatsoever,” she said.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 22, 2026

“Preventing activity lest it give rise to tax evasion places no limit whatsoever on Congress’s power under the taxation clause,” Judge Edith Jones writes for the unanimous panel in McNutt v.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 20, 2026

Sometimes, the former can change significantly overnight with no input from us whatsoever, for example via an inheritance that leaves us with questions about investments, lifestyle, taxes and retirement.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 17, 2026

Freedom of navigation, Commission spokesman Anouar El Anouni told journalists, means "basically no payment or toll whatsoever".

From Barron's • Apr. 9, 2026

I had nothing to read but The Bobbsey Twins in Eskimo Land, a childish book with nothing whatsoever to hold my interest.

From "The Poisonwood Bible" by Barbara Kingsolver