what's-his-face

pronoun

A man whose identity is unknown or forgotten (especially when better-known to the listener).

“Near-synonyms: what's-his-name (what's-her-name, what's-their-name); whatchamacallhim (whatchamacallher); you-know-who; so-and-so; see also Thesaurus:what's-their-name”

Meanings

pronounwhat's-his-face (plural what's-their-faces)

plural what's-their-faces · alternative what'shisface · alternative whatshisface · alternative what's-'is-face · alternative what's'isface · alternative what'sisface · alternative whats'isface · alternative whatsisface · alternative whatseface · alternative whasisface · alternative who's-his-face · alternative who'shisface · alternative whoshisface · alternative whosisface

  1. informalsingularA man whose identity is unknown or forgotten (especially when better-known to the listener).

    Near-synonyms: what's-his-name (what's-her-name, what's-their-name); whatchamacallhim (whatchamacallher); you-know-who; so-and-so; see also Thesaurus:what's-their-name

    Synonyms: what's-his-name, whatchamacallhim, you-know-who, so-and-so

Synonyms & antonyms

pronounA man whose identity is unknown or forgotten (especially when better-known to the listener).

Origin

Univerbation of what's + his + face (“self”, metonymic).

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

what's-his-face. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/what's-his-face

MLA

“what's-his-face.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/what's-his-face. Accessed November 4, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “what's-his-face,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/what's-his-face.

Source: what's-his-face on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.