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

President Donald Trump’s tariffs on foreign goods – specifically those sourced from China – are expected to heighten the prices of everyday tech products, from iPhones to laptops, cars and even smaller gadgets like headphones and computer mice. —Lisa Eadicicco, CNN Money, 10 Apr. 2025

Other pricey items included designer clothes and tech gadgets. —Zach Wichter, USA Today, 9 Apr. 2025

The matchbox-sized gadget houses a bunch of sensors to measure changes in temperature, and the aforementioned gases by collecting them in a small chamber that doesn't come in contact with your skin. —New Atlas, 9 Apr. 2025

For the past decade, technology companies have conditioned buyers to make purchasing expensive gadgets an annual affair through services such as Apple’s iPhone Upgrade Program. —Damon Beres, The Atlantic, 8 Apr. 2025

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

Rhymes for gadget

• areopagite

Kids Definition

gadget

noun

gad·​get ˈgaj-ət 

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

gadgetry

ˈgaj-ə-trē 

noun