Search Dictionary
Definition of whodunit

whodunit

/ˌhuːˈdʌn.ɪt/
(UK: whodunnit)
who · dun · it
Plural:whodunits
JUMP TO:

whodunit Lexical Profile

whodunit Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

A story, play, or film about a murder or other crime in which the identity of the perpetrator is kept secret from the audience until the end.

Example

"She spent the rainy afternoon curled up on the sofa reading a classic Agatha Christie whodunit."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for whodunit

Word Nuance & Usage

Also commonly spelled 'whodunnit', particularly in British English.

• Rhymes for whodunit

• Nearby Words

whizzy
who
whoa
whodunit
whoever
whole
whole life insurance

Word Origin & Etymology

Coined in 1930 by literary critic Donald Gordon in the magazine 'American News of Books' as a playful phonetic respelling of the colloquial question 'who done it?' (meaning 'who did it?').

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Whodunit. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/whodunit
Built for writers, students, and competitive word game players, Wordmom combines an uncluttered English dictionary and thesaurus with fast, pattern-based word finders so you can verify definitions, synonyms, and high-scoring tile plays in one place.
Word Games & Solvers
Word FinderScrabble Word FinderWords With Friends CheatWordle SolverAnagram Solver
Dictionary & Reference
DictionarySynonymsAntonymsWords
Community
Contact UsEditorial PolicyPrivacy PolicyTerms and Conditions
© 2016–2026 Wordmom Network. All rights reserved. Made with for word lovers everywhere.
Disclaimer: SCRABBLE® is a registered trademark. All intellectual property rights in and to the game are owned in the U.S.A. and Canada by Hasbro Inc., and throughout the rest of the world by J.W. Spear & Sons Limited of Maidenhead, Berkshire, England, a subsidiary of Mattel Inc. Mattel and Spear are not affiliated with Hasbro. Words With Friends® is a registered trademark of Zynga Inc. Wordle® is a registered trademark of The New York Times Company. Other referenced game titles and tournament lexicon codes (including NASPA NWL and WESPA/HarperCollins CSW) are trademarks of their respective owners. Wordmom is an independent reference utility for educational and entertainment purposes and is not affiliated with, sponsored by, or endorsed by Hasbro, Mattel, Spear, Zynga, The New York Times Company, NASPA, WESPA, or HarperCollins Publishers. All game names are referenced strictly under nominative fair use to indicate compatibility.