Whodunnit: meaning, definitions and examples

๐Ÿ•ต๏ธโ€โ™‚๏ธ
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whodunnit

 

[ hwuหหˆdสŒnษชt ]

Noun
Context #1 | Noun

mystery genre

A whodunnit is a type of narrative or literary work that revolves around a crime; typically a murder, and the events that unfold as characters attempt to solve it. The term focuses on the mystery of the identity of the perpetrator, creating intrigue and suspense for the reader or audience. Often, whodunnits are characterized by their complex plots, misdirection, and clues that lead to the resolution of the mystery. They have been popularized through novels, films, and television series, engaging audiences in guessing the identity of the culprit before it is revealed.

Synonyms

crime fiction, detective story, mystery

Examples of usage

  • I love reading a good whodunnit novel.
  • The film was a classic whodunnit with lots of twists.
  • She enjoys writing whodunnits full of red herrings.
  • The board game is based on a whodunnit theme.

Translations

Translations of the word "whodunnit" in other languages:

๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡น quem fez isso

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ณ เค•เคฟเคธเคจเฅ‡ เค•เคฟเคฏเคพ

๐Ÿ‡ฉ๐Ÿ‡ช Wer hat's getan

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ฉ siapa yang melakukannya

๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ฆ ั…ั‚ะพ ั†ะต ะทั€ะพะฑะธะฒ

๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡ฑ kto to zrobiล‚

๐Ÿ‡ฏ๐Ÿ‡ต ่ชฐใŒใ‚„ใฃใŸใฎใ‹

๐Ÿ‡ซ๐Ÿ‡ท qui a fait รงa

๐Ÿ‡ช๐Ÿ‡ธ ยฟquiรฉn lo hizo?

๐Ÿ‡น๐Ÿ‡ท bunu kim yaptฤฑ

๐Ÿ‡ฐ๐Ÿ‡ท ๋ˆ„๊ฐ€ ๊ทธ๊ฑธ ํ–ˆ๋Š”๊ฐ€

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฆ ู…ู† ูุนู„ ุฐู„ูƒ

๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ฟ kdo to udฤ›lal

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฐ kto to urobil

๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ณ ่ฐๅš็š„

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฎ kdo je to naredil

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ธ hver gerรฐi รพetta

๐Ÿ‡ฐ๐Ÿ‡ฟ ะบั–ะผ ะถะฐัะฐะดั‹

๐Ÿ‡ฌ๐Ÿ‡ช แƒ•แƒ˜แƒœ แƒ’แƒแƒแƒ™แƒ”แƒ—แƒ แƒ”แƒก

๐Ÿ‡ฆ๐Ÿ‡ฟ bunu kim etdi

๐Ÿ‡ฒ๐Ÿ‡ฝ ยฟquiรฉn lo hizo?

Etymology

The term 'whodunnit' originated from a blend of American English and detective fiction literature that became popular in the early 20th century. The word itself is a contraction of 'who done it?', which is often heard in popular crime-related narratives. The genre gained prominence with the publication of mystery novels, particularly those by authors like Agatha Christie, whose works featured intricate plots and clever resolutions. The phrase encapsulates the essence of detective stories where the central question revolves around the identity of the criminal. Over time, 'whodunnit' has not only described literary works but has also extended into film and television, influencing the development of mystery narratives across multiple platforms.

Word Frequency Rank

At position #41,789, this word is among the less frequently used terms in English. While interesting to know, it's not crucial for most English learners unless needed for specific purposes.