gimmick

1 of 2

noun

gim·​mick ˈgi-mik 

1

a

: a mechanical device for secretly and dishonestly controlling gambling apparatus

b

: an ingenious or novel mechanical device : gadget

2

a

: an important feature that is not immediately apparent : catch

… few readers would look for a gimmick in an advertisement featuring airline schedules, but few would fail to look for the fine print in an ad announcing New Low-Price Fares.

—Robert L. Heilbroner

b

: an ingenious and usually new scheme or angle

Even in professional careers, mere competence and craftsmanship is no substitute for a gimmick.

—James Poniewozik

c

: a trick or device used to attract business or attention

a marketing gimmick

gimmicky

ˈgi-mi-kē 

adjective

gimmick

2 of 2

verb

gimmicked; gimmicking; gimmicks

transitive verb

1

: to alter or influence by means of a gimmick

2

: to provide with a gimmick

—often used with up

Synonyms

Noun

• artifice
• device
• dodge
• fetch
• flimflam
• gambit
• jig
• juggle
• knack
• play
• ploy
• ruse
• scheme
• shenanigan
• sleight
• stratagem
• trick
• wile

Examples of gimmick in a Sentence

Noun

The proposal to cut taxes was just an election gimmick to win votes.

that free dinner is just a sales gimmick to get you to listen to their sales pitch

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Her being constantly out of the loop in the show may become a gimmick that works. —Shamira Ibrahim, Vulture, 4 Nov. 2024

This resulted in a string of odd gimmicks for Corbin, including Happy Corbin and a relationship with JBL. —Marco Rubio, Newsweek, 2 Nov. 2024

Verb

But this requires much more reliable AI models—not gimmicks such as large language models that can write Shakespearean sonnets. —Daron Acemoglu, Fortune, 6 Aug. 2024

Depending on the precise circumstances under which the United Kingdom leaves the EU, nationalists or unionists will be in a far stronger position to gimmick the long-term odds in their favor. —Henry Farrell, Foreign Affairs, 29 Mar. 2018

Word History

Etymology

Noun and Verb

origin unknown

First Known Use

Noun

1908, in the meaning defined at sense 1b

Verb

1922, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

gimmick

noun

gim·​mick

ˈgim-ik

1

a

: an ingenious scheme or device

b

: a trick or device used to attract business or attention

a marketing gimmick

2

: an important feature that is not immediately apparent

gimmicky

-i-kē

adjective