thingamabob
In real, traceable use. Part of the curated seed collection; community review is coming.
Meaning · English
A thing or person whose actual name is unknown or forgotten.
Register: slang
Where it’s used:
Used
American English
Examples
"The tin thingamabob," insisted Mr. Trigget with slow dignity. "Call it what you will. Its purpose is self-evident. It acts as a dispirator—a distributor, that is to say—"
Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30)
Sources & notes
Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30 via kaikki.org).
Common questions
What does “thingamabob” mean?
A thing or person whose actual name is unknown or forgotten.
Is “thingamabob” formal or informal?
thingamabob is generally slang.