gadget

1 of 2

noun (1)

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

gadgeteer

2 of 2

noun (2)

gad·​ge·​teer ˌga-jə-ˈtir 

: a person who makes or is fond of gadgets

Like Loomis, he was a compulsive tinkerer and inventor whose curiosity knew no bounds. That Loomis was a lifelong gadgeteer and largely self-taught naturally appealed to Wood.

—Jennet Conant

Synonyms of gadget

Noun (1)

• tool
• appliance
• gizmo
• contraption
• widget
• accessory
• mechanism
• innovation

Examples of gadget in a Sentence

Noun (1)

The kitchen is equipped with all the latest gadgets.

cell phones, pagers, and other gadgets

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

That demand has produced a crowded field of gadgets so here are 11 worth knowing about. —Hanna Wickes, Miami Herald, 15 June 2026

Your Wi-Fi router may be the least glamorous gadget in your home. —Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 14 June 2026

Noun

Equally ingenious, it must be said, are the many ways Facebook and Instagram gadgeteers have of disappointing. —airmail.news, 7 Dec. 2024

According to those, Gru had the Minions created by Dr. Nefario, his prodigious designer, gadgeteer, and right-hand man, in their laboratory to spawn a new breed of loyal (and cute) henchmen. —Devon Ivie, Vulture, 25 July 2024

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

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

First Known Use

Noun (1)

1886, in the meaning defined above

Noun (2)

1929, 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