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Thingamajig 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 thingamajig here.��

Thingamajig is sometimes used even if you know the name of the thing you’re referring to. It can be used to be dismissive or to downplay the importance or value of an object, such as when someone is admiring it, as in What, these old thingamajigs? I’ve got a whole boxful of ’em. Take as many as you want.��

Less commonly, it can be spelled thingumajig. There are several other similarly informal words that are used in the same way, including thingamabob, thingy, whachamacallit, whatsit, doohickey, and doodad.

Example: My kids got me one of those thingamajigs that track your steps. What’s it called? A stepometer?

The first records of the word thingamajig come from the 1870s. The first part of the words thingamajig and thingamabob comes from the word thingum, an informal variant of the word thing similar to thingy. The word jig is used in the sense of a kind of mechanical device.

Have you got a junk drawer full of thingamajigs? The word is especially used to refer to small, physical objects, but its ambiguous nature means it can be used for all kinds of things (which is really the point of a word like thingamajig). Sometimes, it’s used just to be a bit funny, even if you actually know the name of the object you’re referring to.

What are some other forms related to thingamajig?

• thingumajig (alternate spelling)

What are some synonyms for thingamajig?

• thingamabob
• thingy
• doohickey
• doodad
• doodah
• whachamacallit
• what-do-you-call-it
• whatsit
• whatsis
• dingus

What are some words that share a root or word element with thingamajig?��

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• thing
• jig

What are some words that often get used in discussing thingamajig?

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• gadget
• gizmo
• device
• contraption
• object
• item
• forget
• name

Thingamajig is very informal. It’s especially used in speech as a way for the speaker to refer to something whose name they don’t know or can’t remember at that moment.

Anyone know where I can get one of those thingamajigs that punch holes into cans like this?

— Ryan Parker (@kidparker)

I finally installed the free google home thingamajig and asked her to play classical piano and now it’s gotten very Jane Austen-y. It’s like my own personal soundtrack.
Wait…. is this why people listen to music?

— Saberi Knakon (@IMSaberi)

Bitfit thingamajig says I burned 4k calories today…so I should be hungry right? Because I'm not and it's a little disconcerting.

— Nix ~Your Proud Punkle 💜 (@MC_Etching)

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Is thingamajig used correctly in the following sentence?

This darn thingamajig doesn’t even work anymore—can you pick up another one at the store?