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Definition of whataboutery

whataboutery

/ˌwʌt.əˈbaʊ.tɚ.i/
what · a · bout · er · y
Plural:whatabouteries
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whataboutery Lexical Profile

whataboutery Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

British The technique or practice of responding to an accusation or difficult question by making a counteraccusation or raising a different issue.

Example

"Instead of addressing the audit findings directly, the spokesperson resorted to whataboutery by pointing out past mistakes made by the previous administration."

Synonyms
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Antonyms
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Word Nuance & Usage

Primarily used in British and Irish English, whereas 'whataboutism' is the preferred equivalent in North American English.

• Rhymes for whataboutery

• Nearby Words

wharf
wharton
what
whataboutery
whataboutism
whatcha
whatchacallit

Word Origin & Etymology

Coined in the 1970s in Northern Ireland during the Troubles, formed from the rhetorical phrase 'what about...?' used to deflect blame onto political opponents, combined with the suffix '-ery'.

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Whataboutery. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/whataboutery
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