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thingy

thingy

75 8.4
An informal word for an object when you forget its name
  • noun
  • /ˈθɪŋi/
  • Informal
translation icon : cosa
  • Can you hand me that thingy over there on the table?
  • a little thingy
  • a plastic thingy
  • a sharp thingy

The whole side quest thingy was boring.

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Examples

  • Luckily, there were a lot of capable people working on the thingies from start to finish.

    Blog text (17)
  • Sorry about the little thingy on the camera.

  • And that thing, that thingy right there should have units of what?

  • You can just put the thingy on the thing.

  • And then this is the center runner thingy for a table.

  • Wait a minute, is this what that altar thingy is for?

  • So where are the journal thingies you were talking about?

  • Mommy made the tortilla thingy from scratch.

  • Then she took me to this huge grocery store thingy called Jungle Jim's... such a cool place.

    Blog text (4)
  • In the last two days, my third job (the passion-hobby-thingy) has been really super busy.

    Blog text (4)

Synonyms

something
vsthingy
1.0

An unknown object or idea that is not named

is an informal catch-all used when names are forgotten or unimportant
thing
vsthingy
1.0

Something you do not know or cannot name

is informal and used when names are unknown, forgotten, or unimportant
doohickey
vsthingy
  • Informal
11 9.9

A small object whose name you do not know

is broader and covers ideas or unnamed matters beyond gadgets alone
doodad
vsthingy
  • Informal
7 8.7

A small thing or device whose name you do not know

is a more general informal word for objects, ideas, or unimportant names
dingus
vsthingy
  • Slang
7 9.6

An informal word for an object or person whose name you cannot remember

is more neutral and also fits abstract ideas or unimportant unnamed items
whatchamacallit
vsthingy
  • Informal
7 9.9

A word for an object whose name you do not know

is a short informal substitute used for objects or ideas rather than that long form
thingie
vsthingy
  • Informal
6 9.2

A simple word for an object you cannot remember the name of

is used broadly for objects, ideas, or unimportant names beyond short labels
gimmick
vsthingy
  • Informal
6 5.6

A small object whose name you cannot remember

is used more widely for objects, ideas, or vague things rather than only gadgets
thingamajig
vsthingy
  • Informal
5 9.9

A word people use for a person or object when they forget its name

is more often for objects or ideas than specifically naming people
thingamabob
vsthingy
  • Informal
5 9.6

A thing whose name you do not know or remember

is an informal placeholder used for ideas and objects rather than precise names
whatsis
vsthingy
  • Informal
1 9.9

A thing whose name you cannot remember

is used more broadly for objects or ideas rather than only casual mentions
whosis
vsthingy
  • Informal
1 9.9

A casual word for a person or thing whose name you do not know

is used especially for objects or abstract ideas rather than commonly for people
hootenanny
vsthingy
  • Archaic
1 9.9

A small tool or object you forget the name of

is the common informal substitute rather than a neutral or formal term
thingumajig
vsthingy
  • Informal
9.9

A small object whose name you do not know

is used for both objects and ideas rather than for devices only
thingmajig
vsthingy
  • Informal
9.9

An object whose name you do not know or have forgotten

is more general, covering ideas and unnamed matters not only devices
thingumabob
vsthingy
  • Informal
9.9

An object whose name you don't know or have forgotten

is a short informal substitute used for objects and ideas generally
thingummy
vsthingy
  • Informal
9.9

A word for a person or thing whose name you cannot remember

is mainly used for objects or ideas rather than naming people often
whatchamacallum
vsthingy
  • UK
9.9

A word for something whose name you cannot remember

is a briefer informal substitute used for objects or ideas instead
thinginess
vsthingy
  • Informal
9.9

A word used for an object when you forget its name

is a simpler casual label used for unnamed objects or ideas instead
gismo
vsthingy
  • UK
8.5

A small device you do not know the name of

is broader and applies to ideas or any unnamed objects, not just gadgets
dojigger
vsthingy
  • Informal
9.9

A small object used when you do not know its name

is the general informal substitute for unnamed items beyond playful device names
innominate
vsthingy
  • Archaic
9.9

A person or thing with no name

is informal and modern, used in everyday situations not formal ones

How Formal

apparatus
45 6.1
device
2.1
gadget
142 2.9
doohickey
  • Informal
11 9.9
thingy
  • Informal
75 8.4

Surface Forms

thingy singular
thingies plural

Morphology

thingy = thing (transparent) = thing + y

The informal suffix '-y' creates a casual referent from 'thing', a straightforward and productive formation.

Etymology

Thingy comes from thing + -y, where thing means an object and -y makes the word casual or 'small'. That is why people say thingy when they cannot remember or do not need the exact name of an object.