whodunit

American  

[hoo-duhn-it] / huˈdʌn ɪt /

especially British, whodunnit

noun

Informal.

1. a narrative dealing with a murder or a series of murders and the detection of the criminal; detective story.

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Etymology

Origin of whodunit

1925–30; jocular formation from question Who done it?, for standard English Who did it?

Example Sentences

I like thrillers that work a little theology into the plot: the mysteries of a crime — not just whodunit, but a whydunit — can throw a little light on the mysteries of creation and existence.

From Los Angeles Times

Another set of noteworthy entries from 2025 engage with classic whodunit scenarios.

From The Wall Street Journal

Thomas knew early on that the show, which portrays solved crimes in a whodunit format, should feel like storytelling around a campfire, according to senior producer Vince Sherry.

From The Wall Street Journal

A whodunit is a bit like a basketball game: The last few minutes are all that really matter.

From The Wall Street Journal

The “Knives Out” whodunits are about classic filmmaking delights: smart scripts, sharp jokes and big stars.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• conundrum
• enigma
• problem
• question
• riddle
• secrecy
• subtlety
• thriller