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
2.
or the like; or something else similar
Abbreviation: etc., &c▶ USAGE 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
Word origin
from Latin, from et and + cetera the other (things)
et cetera in American English
(ɛtˈsɛtərə; ɛtˈsɛtrə)
1.
and others; and the like; and the rest; and so forth
2.
or the like; or others of the same kind; or something similar
Word origin
L
Examples of 'et cetera' in a sentence
et cetera
Little protest as to unlawful detention, the necessity of charges, et cetera.
Thomas, Craig THE LAST RAVEN (1994)
He offered to buy my Redcoat shares -- after asking how I was financially, et cetera.
Davis, John Gordon SEIZE THE RECKLESS WIND (1994)
Share collapse, bank support, Reid pledging money of his own, the PM outraged in private, et cetera, et cetera.
Thomas, Craig THE LAST RAVEN (1994)
Let it be a grand occasion; symbolic as hell - the whole city at our feet, et cetera, et cetera.
Siddons, Anne Rivers DOWNTOWN (1994)
Synonyms of 'et cetera'
and so on, and so forth, etc.
and the rest, and others, and the like, et al
More Synonyms of et cetera
(adverb)
Definition
and so forth
people who play cricket, football, rugby, et cetera
Synonyms
and so on
and so forth
etc.
(noun)
Definition
and the rest
an image-maker who had said she could help with his hair, clothes and general et ceteras
Synonyms
and the rest
and others
and the like
et al
etc
Usage note
The literal meaning of the Latin phrase et cetera is `and other things'. The use of and in a list ending with et cetera, as in we bought bread, cheese, butter, and et cetera, is therefore redundant. Nor is there ever any need to repeat the phrase et cetera for emphasis at the end of a list. Such repetition, as in he bought paper, ink, notebooks, et cetera, et cetera is very informal and should not be used in writing or formal speaking.