Synonyms

et cetera

American

[et set-er-uh, se-truh] / ɛt ˈsɛt ər ə, ˈsɛ trə /

adverb

and others; and so forth; and so on (used to indicate that more of the same sort or class might have been mentioned, but for brevity have been omitted): etc.

He had dogs, cats, guinea pigs, frogs, et cetera, as pets.

et cetera British

/ ɪt ˈsɛtrə /

and the rest; and others; and so forth: used at the end of a list to indicate that other items of the same class or type should be considered or included
or the like; or something else similar

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Pronunciation

Pronunciations with substituted for the first : , or , although occasionally used by educated speakers, are usually considered nonstandard.

Usage

Et cetera , a Latin phrase, appears in English writing most frequently in its abbreviated form, etc . This phrase is used frequently in technical and business writing, somewhat less frequently in general informal writing, and sometimes in literary or formal writing. Expressions such as and so forth and and so on are useful substitutes. Because “and” is included in the meaning of et cetera , the expression and et cetera is redundant.

It is unnecessary to use and before etc as etc ( et cetera ) already means and other things. The repetition of etc, as in he brought paper, ink, notebooks, etc, etc, is avoided except in informal contexts

Etymology

Origin of et cetera

First recorded 1100–50; late Old English, from Latin et cētera, equivalent to et “and” + cētera, accusative neuter plural of cēterus “the rest of, the remainder”

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Fiber optic cables were lighter than copper, more of the value in GDP was in ideas not physical goods, et cetera.

From Barron's

Et cetera, et cetera, and so on and so forth.

From Slate

“This was a very well-connected bank, corrupt et cetera, which underscored that the banking system in itself is a channel for enrichment of the well-connected,” said Adnan Mazarei, a former deputy director of the Middle East and Central Asia Department at the International Monetary Fund.

From The Wall Street Journal

“To anyone who feels I have harmed them, hurt them, et cetera, actual or perceived, my apologies.”

From Los Angeles Times

There’s also the other challenge of defining the rules to test buy the dip — length, severity, et cetera.

From MarketWatch

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023