whataboutery: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
LowFormal/Journalistic/Political Discourse
Quick answer
What does “whataboutery” mean?
A rhetorical tactic of responding to criticism by making a counter-accusation or raising a different issue, often to deflect attention from the original point.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A rhetorical tactic of responding to criticism by making a counter-accusation or raising a different issue, often to deflect attention from the original point.
The practice or habit of engaging in such deflection in political, social, or personal debates. Can refer to a pattern of argumentation where someone consistently avoids addressing a topic by pointing to a perceived hypocrisy or different failing.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
More established in British and Irish English, particularly in political commentary. In American English, it's understood but less frequently used; the concept is often described with phrases like 'changing the subject' or 'whataboutism'.
Connotations
Equally negative in both varieties, associated with bad-faith argumentation.
Frequency
Significantly more common in UK/Irish media and political analysis. Its use in the US has increased in recent years, often in coverage of international politics or media criticism.
Grammar
How to Use “whataboutery” in a Sentence
[Subject] accused [Object] of whataboutery.The debate was marred by whataboutery.It's just whataboutery to avoid the real issue.Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “whataboutery” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- He tried to whatabout his way out of the interview, but the presenter kept him on topic.
American English
- Politicians often whatabout when confronted with their own records.
adjective
British English
- It was a classic whataboutery tactic, designed to muddy the waters.
American English
- The panel discussion devolved into a whataboutery spiral.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare. Could be used critically in discussions of corporate responsibility or ethics (e.g., 'The CEO's response to the environmental report was pure whataboutery, pointing to a competitor's older infractions.')
Academic
Used in political science, rhetoric, communication studies, and ethics to label a specific fallacious argumentative strategy.
Everyday
Uncommon in casual conversation. Might be used by politically engaged individuals discussing news or arguments.
Technical
A technical term in rhetoric and logical fallacy analysis, synonymous with or a subset of 'tu quoque'.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “whataboutery”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “whataboutery”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “whataboutery”
- Using it as a neutral synonym for 'comparison' or 'context'. Misspelling as 'whataboutary' or 'whatabouterie'. Using it to describe a valid counter-example or legitimate contextualisation.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Essentially, yes. 'Whataboutery' is more common in UK/Irish English, while 'whataboutism' is slightly more frequent in American English. They are synonyms for the same rhetorical tactic.
No. Legitimately highlighting relevant hypocrisy to challenge credibility is a valid argument. It becomes whataboutery when it's used solely to evade addressing the original criticism without engaging with its substance.
Almost never. It is a pejorative term used to criticise an argument as evasive and fallacious. Using it neutrally would be unusual and likely confusing.
The term 'whataboutery' is particularly associated with the Northern Ireland conflict ('The Troubles'), where it described the practice of deflecting criticism of one side's actions by pointing to the other side's atrocities.
A rhetorical tactic of responding to criticism by making a counter-accusation or raising a different issue, often to deflect attention from the original point.
Whataboutery is usually formal/journalistic/political discourse in register.
Whataboutery: in British English it is pronounced /ˌwɒt.əˈbaʊ.tər.i/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌwʌt̬.əˈbaʊ.t̬ɚ.i/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “That's just whataboutery!”
- “The game of whataboutery”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'WHAT ABOUT that other thing you did?' + 'ry' (as in 'trickery') = 'whataboutery' – the trick of saying 'what about...' to deflect.
Conceptual Metaphor
ARGUMENT IS WAR (deflecting a blow with a counter-thrust); DEBATE IS A GAME (a move to avoid losing ground).
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary function of 'whataboutery' in a debate?