Also called: whataboutery (Show more) whataboutism, the rhetorical practice of responding to an accusation or difficult question by making a counteraccusation, by asking a different but related question, or by raising a different issue altogether. Whataboutism often serves to reduce the perceived plausibility or seriousness of the original accusation or question by suggesting that the person advancing it is hypocritical or that the responder’s misbehavior is not unique or unprecedented. Acts of whataboutism typically begin with rhetorical questions of the form “What about…?” Whataboutism is a portmanteau of what and about, suffixed with -ism (meaning a distinctive practice). The first known use of the term ...(100 of 898 words) Access the full article Help support true facts by becoming a member. Subscribe today!