catchall

American  

[kach-awl] / ˈkætʃˌɔl /

noun

1. a bag, basket, or other receptacle for odds and ends.

2. something that covers a wide variety of items or situations.

   The list is just a catchall of things I want to see or do on vacation.

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adjective

1. covering a wide variety of items or situations.

   The anthology is a catchall collection.

Etymology

Origin of catchall

1830–40, noun use of verb phrase catch all

Example Sentences

So far, the watchword of the invisible primary this time around seems to be “affordability,” a catchall term for Americans’ sense that life—everything from housing and childcare to groceries and gas—has gotten too expensive.

From Slate • Mar. 25, 2026

Weight-loss drugs—a catchall term for Novo’s medications for diabetes and chronic weight management—have been at the center of a continuing feud between the companies.

From Barron's • Mar. 10, 2026

The sources familiar with the Perez photo case said the officer was accused of “conduct unbecoming,” widely considered a catchall category for inappropriate behavior under department regulations.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 6, 2026

When shark sightings, encounters and bites all get conflated under the catchall umbrella of an "attack", the danger seems greater than it is.

From BBC • Jan. 23, 2026

Antisocial personality, though it described plenty of guys on R-and-W, seemed also to serve as a catchall for problem inmates who couldn’t otherwise be categorized.

From "Newjack: Guarding Sing Sing" by Ted Conover

Related Words

• broad
• comprehensive