willy-nilly Hear it!

willy-nilly definition

willy-nilly (wil′ē nil′ē)

adverb

  1. whether one wishes it or not; willingly or unwillingly
  2. in a disordered way; helter-skelter

Etymology: contr. < will I, nill I: see will & nill

adjective

that is or happens whether one wishes it or not

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2009 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Comments
Improve this definition.
Do you have more to add? Share your linguistic knowledge or observation.
/Register to save your comments.