Whodunit: meaning, definitions and examples
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whodunit
[ huːˈdʌnɪt ]
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
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:
🇵🇹 romance policial
🇮🇳 रहस्य कथा
🇩🇪 Kriminalroman
🇮🇩 novel detektif
🇺🇦 детективний роман
🇵🇱 kryminał
🇯🇵 推理小説 (すいりしょうせつ)
🇫🇷 roman policier
🇪🇸 novela de misterio
🇹🇷 polisiye roman
🇰🇷 추리 소설
🇸🇦 رواية بوليسية
🇨🇿 detektivka
🇸🇰 detektívka
🇨🇳 侦探小说
🇸🇮 detektivka
🇮🇸 ráðgátusaga
🇰🇿 қылмыстық роман
🇬🇪 დეტექტიური რომანი
🇦🇿 detektiv romanı
🇲🇽 novela de misterio
Word origin
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.