Whodunit: meaning, definitions and examples
๐ต๏ธโโ๏ธ
whodunit
[ huหหdสnษชt ]
mystery
A whodunit is a mystery story or play in which the identity of the perpetrator is unknown until the very end.
Synonyms
crime novel, detective story, mystery.
Which Synonym Should You Choose?
Word | Description / Examples |
---|---|
whodunit |
A 'whodunit' is commonly used to describe a story or film where the main plot revolves around figuring out who committed a crime, typically a murder. This term often implies a puzzle-like structure where clues are presented to the audience or reader.
|
mystery |
'Mystery' is a broad term that can refer to any story involving a suspenseful puzzling event or situation that needs to be resolved. It may not necessarily focus on crime but generally involves some unknown element that captures the audience's interest.
|
detective story |
A 'detective story' focuses on the detective character solving a crime or series of crimes. The term usually implies a more traditional storyline featuring a private investigator or police detective working through clues to solve the case.
|
crime novel |
'Crime novel' is a broader category that encompasses any fictional work focused on crime, including murder, heists, or organized crime. Unlike a whodunit, a crime novel might not focus solely on the mystery of who committed the crime but could explore the criminal's perspective, the legal process, or the impact on the victims.
|
Examples of usage
- The classic whodunit novels by Agatha Christie keep readers guessing until the final chapter.
- In a good whodunit, the clues are cleverly scattered throughout the plot to keep the audience engaged.
Translations
Translations of the word "whodunit" in other languages:
๐ต๐น romance policial
๐ฎ๐ณ เคฐเคนเคธเฅเคฏ เคเคฅเคพ
๐ฉ๐ช Kriminalroman
๐ฎ๐ฉ novel detektif
๐บ๐ฆ ะดะตัะตะบัะธะฒะฝะธะน ัะพะผะฐะฝ
๐ต๐ฑ kryminaล
๐ฏ๐ต ๆจ็ๅฐ่ชฌ (ใใใใใใใใค)
๐ซ๐ท roman policier
๐ช๐ธ novela de misterio
๐น๐ท polisiye roman
๐ฐ๐ท ์ถ๋ฆฌ ์์ค
๐ธ๐ฆ ุฑูุงูุฉ ุจูููุณูุฉ
๐จ๐ฟ detektivka
๐ธ๐ฐ detektรญvka
๐จ๐ณ ไพฆๆขๅฐ่ฏด
๐ธ๐ฎ detektivka
๐ฎ๐ธ rรกรฐgรกtusaga
๐ฐ๐ฟ าัะปะผััััา ัะพะผะฐะฝ
๐ฌ๐ช แแแขแแฅแขแแฃแ แ แ แแแแแ
๐ฆ๐ฟ detektiv romanฤฑ
๐ฒ๐ฝ novela de misterio
Etymology
The term 'whodunit' originated in the early 20th century as a colloquial abbreviation of 'who done it?' It became popular in the context of mystery fiction, particularly detective stories where the central question is the identity of the perpetrator. Whodunits have been a beloved genre in literature and entertainment, offering intrigue and suspense to audiences.
Word Frequency Rank
Ranking #37,918, this word is encountered relatively rarely in everyday English. It might appear in literary works or specialized texts but isn't essential for general communication.
- ...
- 37915 extenuated
- 37916 besmirch
- 37917 falteringly
- 37918 whodunit
- 37919 venomously
- 37920 appliqued
- 37921 heavenwards
- ...