doohickey: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
LowInformal, Casual
Quick answer
What does “doohickey” mean?
A small, often unspecified, device or gadget.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A small, often unspecified, device or gadget.
A casual placeholder name for any object whose proper name is unknown, forgotten, or considered unimportant; often used for mechanical or small technological items.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
More common in American English, but well-understood in British English. In the UK, 'thingummy' or 'thingy' might be more frequent.
Connotations
Both: Slightly humorous, folksy. No significant difference in connotation.
Frequency
Low frequency in both dialects, but higher in American speech.
Grammar
How to Use “doohickey” in a Sentence
Pass me the [doohickey].The [doohickey] that holds the...Where's the little [doohickey] for the...?Vocabulary
Collocations
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare. Might be used in very informal internal discussions to refer humorously to an unnamed prototype or component.
Academic
Virtually never used.
Everyday
Primary context. Used in casual conversation, especially when tinkering, cooking, or assembling items.
Technical
Avoided in formal technical writing, but used informally among technicians when the precise term is elusive.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “doohickey”
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “doohickey”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “doohickey”
- Spelling: 'dohickey', 'do-hickey'. Using it in formal writing. Overusing it instead of learning the proper name of an object.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, it is an established informal noun in English dictionaries, though it is not used in formal contexts.
They are very similar. 'Gizmo' might imply slightly more technological sophistication, while 'doohickey' can be any small physical object. They are often interchangeable.
It's unusual. It typically refers to small, often fiddly, components or gadgets. For a large machine, 'contraption' or 'thing' would be more common.
Not rude, but it can sound dismissive or imply you don't consider the object important enough to name properly. It's friendly and casual, not insulting.
A small, often unspecified, device or gadget.
Doohickey is usually informal, casual in register.
Doohickey: in British English it is pronounced /ˈduːˌhɪk.i/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈduˌhɪk.i/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Every doohickey and whatchamacallit (emphasizing a collection of miscellaneous items).”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Sounds like "do-hickey," as in "do the hickey thing" – a playful, non-serious name for a thing you 'do' something with.
Conceptual Metaphor
THE UNNAMED IS A NONSENSE WORD (e.g., doohickey, thingamabob).
Practice
Quiz
In which context would 'doohickey' be MOST appropriate?