whim-wham: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C2Literary, humorous, archaic
Quick answer
What does “whim-wham” mean?
A fanciful or frivolous object, notion, or ornament.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A fanciful or frivolous object, notion, or ornament; a trifle.
A silly or nonsensical idea; a gimcrack or gewgaw; can also refer to a sudden capricious fancy.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Both varieties treat it as archaic; slightly more evidence of historical use in British English, but neither uses it in modern everyday speech.
Connotations
Same connotation of triviality or fancifulness in both.
Frequency
Extremely rare in both, confined to historical or deliberately antiquated prose.
Grammar
How to Use “whim-wham” in a Sentence
[to have/get] a whim-wham [to do something][to be] a mere whim-whamVocabulary
Collocations
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not used.
Academic
Rarely, only in historical or literary criticism discussing archaic language.
Everyday
Virtually never used; would be considered a deliberate archaism.
Technical
Not used.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “whim-wham”
- Using it as a verb (it's primarily a noun).
- Using it in a serious, modern context where it would seem bizarre.
- Confusing it with 'whim' which is more common and active.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, it is a legitimate, though now archaic and rare, word found in dictionaries, meaning a frivolous object or notion.
No, in standard recorded usage, 'whim-wham' functions solely as a noun.
'Whim' is a live word for a sudden fancy or desire. 'Whim-wham' is archaic and refers more concretely to the frivolous object resulting from such a fancy, or to the notion itself as a triviality.
Virtually never in spontaneous speech. It might be used self-consciously for humorous, poetic, or archaic effect in writing.
A fanciful or frivolous object, notion, or ornament.
Whim-wham is usually literary, humorous, archaic in register.
Whim-wham: in British English it is pronounced /ˈwɪm.wæm/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈ(h)wɪm.ˌ(h)wæm/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “not a whim-wham to spare (archaic: not a penny to spare)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a WHIMpering puppy playing with a toy HAMmer – a silly, frivolous object: a WHIM-WHAM.
Conceptual Metaphor
FRIVOLOUS IDEAS ARE TRINKETS / SUBSTANCE IS WEIGHT.
Practice
Quiz
In which sentence is 'whim-wham' used most appropriately?