gadget

noun

gad·​get ˈga-jət 

: an often small mechanical or electronic device with a practical use but often thought of as a novelty

gadgetry

ˈga-jə-trē 

noun

gadgety

ˈga-jə-tē 

adjective

Synonyms

• appliance
• contraption
• contrivance
• gimmick
• gizmo
• gismo
• jigger
• widget

Examples of gadget in a Sentence

The kitchen is equipped with all the latest gadgets.

cell phones, pagers, and other gadgets

Recent Examples on the Web

Kodak Mobile Film Scanner Amazon 10 Kodak Mobile Film Scanner $35 Amazon $35 Nordstrom The family archivist will appreciate this handy little gadget, which scans old negatives and saves them straight to your giftee’s iPhone or Android. —Jessica Kasparian, SELF, 5 Nov. 2024

Last year the agency also launched a podcast called CISA Live, whose monthly episodes offer the same message alongside discussions of Chinese cyber threats and advice on what gadgets to buy as gifts for the holidays. —Simon Shuster, TIME, 2 Nov. 2024

Impress him this holiday with the best gadgets, games, gift sets, and more. —Audrey Lee, Architectural Digest, 1 Nov. 2024

Slake Your Thirst Photograph: Simon Hill Happy & Polly Gothic Cat Water Fountain $60 $50 at Amazon Our final spooky gadget from Happy & Polly was the Ghost Drinking Fountain. —Simon Hill, WIRED, 31 Oct. 2024

Word History

Etymology

perhaps a sound-symbolic coinage, with final as in fidget entry 1, midget, idjit (nonstandard form of idiot)

First Known Use

1886, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

gadget

noun

gad·​get ˈgaj-ət 

: an interesting, unfamiliar, or unusual device with a practical use

gadgetry

ˈgaj-ə-trē 

noun