Whodunit: meaning, definitions and examples

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whodunit

 

[ huหหˆdสŒnษชt ]

Noun
Context #1 | Noun

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.

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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.

  • Agatha Christie's novels are classic whodunits that keep readers guessing until the last page.
  • The new film is a clever whodunit that will keep you on the edge of your seat.
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.

  • The novel isn't just a thriller; it's a mystery that keeps you guessing the entire time.
  • It was a gripping mystery about a missing artifact and the secrets it held.
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.

  • Sherlock Holmes is the archetype of the detective story, with his logical approach to solving mysteries.
  • The detective story showcased a brilliant investigator unraveling a complex conspiracy.
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.

  • James Patterson is famous for his compelling crime novels that explore various facets of human behavior.
  • The crime novel tackled themes of corruption and justice in a gripping narrative.

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:

๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡น romance policial

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ณ เคฐเคนเคธเฅเคฏ เค•เคฅเคพ

๐Ÿ‡ฉ๐Ÿ‡ช Kriminalroman

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ฉ novel detektif

๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ฆ ะดะตั‚ะตะบั‚ะธะฒะฝะธะน ั€ะพะผะฐะฝ

๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡ฑ kryminaล‚

๐Ÿ‡ฏ๐Ÿ‡ต ๆŽจ็†ๅฐ่ชฌ (ใ™ใ„ใ‚Šใ—ใ‚‡ใ†ใ›ใค)

๐Ÿ‡ซ๐Ÿ‡ท roman policier

๐Ÿ‡ช๐Ÿ‡ธ novela de misterio

๐Ÿ‡น๐Ÿ‡ท polisiye roman

๐Ÿ‡ฐ๐Ÿ‡ท ์ถ”๋ฆฌ ์†Œ์„ค

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฆ ุฑูˆุงูŠุฉ ุจูˆู„ูŠุณูŠุฉ

๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ฟ detektivka

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฐ detektรญvka

๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ณ ไพฆๆŽขๅฐ่ฏด

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฎ detektivka

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ธ rรกรฐgรกtusaga

๐Ÿ‡ฐ๐Ÿ‡ฟ า›ั‹ะปะผั‹ัั‚ั‹า› ั€ะพะผะฐะฝ

๐Ÿ‡ฌ๐Ÿ‡ช แƒ“แƒ”แƒขแƒ”แƒฅแƒขแƒ˜แƒฃแƒ แƒ˜ แƒ แƒแƒ›แƒแƒœแƒ˜

๐Ÿ‡ฆ๐Ÿ‡ฟ detektiv romanฤฑ

๐Ÿ‡ฒ๐Ÿ‡ฝ 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.

See also: who, whoever, whose.

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.