thingamajig
That unnamed thing
Thingamajig is a placeholder name for something whose actual name you can't recall or don't know: Hand me that thingamajig over there.
It belongs to a family of similar nonsense words—thingamabob, whatchamacallit, doohickey—all serving the same function of pointing at an object while admitting you've forgotten what it's called.
Placeholder word for objects
- whatsitPlaceholder for forgotten names
- doodadUnnamed small object
- gizmoNameless mechanical device
- widgetUnspecified small device
thingy · whatnot · thingummy · contraption · gadget · doojigger · so-and-so · dingus
Constructed tool or machine
- gizmoNameless mechanical device
- widgetUnspecified small device
- contraptionImprovised or odd mechanism
- apparatusEquipment for a task
mechanism · implement · instrument · appliance · tool · invention · utensil · equipment
Informal in-group vocabulary
- colloquialCasual, everyday language
- casualRelaxed and informal
- folksyInformally friendly and simple
- conversationalRelating to informal dialogue
playful · whimsical · humorous · lighthearted · jocular · offhand · breezy · easygoing
doohickey
Placeholder word for objects
widget · thingy · whatnot · thingummy · contraption · gadget · doojigger · so-and-so · dingus · gubbins
device
Constructed tool or machine
- gizmoNameless mechanical device
- widgetUnspecified small device
- contraptionImprovised or odd mechanism
apparatus · mechanism · implement · instrument · appliance · tool · invention · utensil · equipment · gear
slang
Informal in-group vocabulary
- colloquialCasual, everyday language
- casualRelaxed and informal
- folksyInformally friendly and simple
conversational · playful · whimsical · humorous · lighthearted · jocular · offhand · breezy · easygoing
blanking
Erasing or forgetting
- spacingInterval arrangement between objects
- forgettingFailing to retain memories
- fumblingClumsy, uncoordinated handling
- thingsthing, object, item, stuff, article
- curioscurios, curio, curiosities, curiosity, knickknacks
- thingamabobsthingies, doodads, doohickeys, whatsits, whatnot
- thingamajigsdoohickey, doodad, gizmo, thingy, widget
- vague wordssomething, someone, somewhere, sometime, somehow
- Whimsy Wordsgobbledygook, gibberish, mumbo jumbo, hogwash, balderdash
thingamajigtechnical term
Specialized field vocabulary
proper noun · proper name · scientific name · mot juste · jargon