thingy

thingy — noun

1. an informal word you say in place of a name you have forgotten or do not conside

1.nounB1
Definition

an informal word you say in place of a name you have forgotten or do not consider important enough to recall — works for a person, an object, or a location

Example

Asher handed Mizuki the small metal thingy for fixing the shelf.

thingy as a vague substitute for a forgotten object name

Can you pass me that red thingy on the kitchen counter, Roya?

Common collocations
  • the thingy
  • that thingy
  • thingy from [place/group]
  • thingy with the [feature]
  • little thingy
  • red / blue / metal thingy
Synonyms
  • thingamajig

    more playful and slightly old-fashioned; used mainly for objects

  • whatchamacallit

    longer and more self-consciously vague; only for objects

  • whatsit

    shorter and very casual; common in British English

  • doohickey

    common in American English; refers specifically to small tools or gadgets

Grammar Patterns

the + thingy + [modifier phrase]

thingy + from + [place/group]

that/this + [adjective] + thingy

Usage Note

Almost exclusively spoken and informal. Avoid in essays, business letters, or any formal context. The listener usually needs to see or already know what you are pointing to; using thingy over the phone without context can cause confusion.

Common Mistakes

❗ 'The CEO mentioned the thingy in the quarterly report.' ✅ 'The CEO mentioned the new software tool in the quarterly report.' — thingy is too casual for professional or formal writing.

Word family

  • thing
    nounA1
  • things
    nounA1
  • thingamajig
    nounC1
  • whatchamacallit
    nounC1

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

All four are informal placeholder words for something whose name the speaker does not know or has forgotten. Thingy is the shortest and most neutral — it can refer to people, objects, or places. Thingamajig sounds more playful and slightly old-fashioned; it is rarely used for people. Whatchamacallit is the longest and most self-consciously vague, often used as a joke about one's own forgetfulness. Doohickey is common in American English and refers almost exclusively to small tools or mechanical parts. In British English the equivalent is often whatsit. For everyday use, thingy is the safest choice; the others add a layer of humour or regional flavour.

thingy ↗thingamajigwhatchamacallitdoohickey

Common collocations

Phrases

  • the thingy with
  • that thingy you

Prepositions

Etymology

Old EnglishEnglish

Formed from the English word 'thing' (from Old English þing, meaning 'entity, matter, affair') plus the familiar diminutive suffix '-y'. The '-y' suffix turns nouns into casual, affectionate, or child-friendly versions (compare 'doggy', 'dolly'). Thingy first appeared in the 1800s as a conversational filler for a name the speaker could not recall or did not bother to say. The similar words 'thingamajig' and 'whatchamacallit' followed the same playful pattern later in the 19th century.