Definition

Noun: 1. A miscellaneous collection of small objects or curiosities: This is the primary meaning, referring to an assortment of various small, often decorative items, whose specific names might be unimportant or too numerous to list. 2. A stand with shelves for displaying such items: Historically, the word also refers to a piece of furniture, like an étagère, designed to hold and display these collections.

Usage Examples

• Noun (Collection):

  • Her desk was covered with photos, trinkets, and whatnot.
  • We bought some tools, nails, screws, and whatnot for the project.
  • The antique shop was full of interesting whatnot.

• Noun (Furniture):

  • The Victorian whatnot in the corner displayed her collection of porcelain figurines.
  • He placed the vase on the top shelf of the whatnot.

Advanced Usage

• As a placeholder in lists: Used informally at the end of a list to suggest other similar, unspecified items.
  • I need to pick up groceries—milk, bread, eggs, whatnot.
  • The meeting will cover budgets, timelines, deliverables, and whatnot.

Variants and Related Words

• Whatnots (plural noun): The plural form, often used to emphasize a collection of miscellaneous items.
  • The shelf was cluttered with little whatnots from her travels.
• What-have-you (noun phrase): A near-identical synonym used as a placeholder.
  • The box contained old letters, postcards, and what-have-you.

Synonyms

• Sundries: Miscellaneous small items.
• Bric-a-brac: Small decorative objects of little value.
• Knick-knacks: Small decorative objects.
• Et cetera (etc.): And other similar things (used in writing).
• And so on: And other things of that kind.

Idioms and Phrases

• And whatnot: This is the most common idiomatic usage, functioning as a phrase to mean "and other things of a similar kind" or "and so forth."
  • They were talking about politics, the economy, and whatnot.
  • She's into hiking, camping, and whatnot.

Noun

1. miscellaneous curios