1
a
: a mechanical device for secretly and dishonestly controlling gambling apparatus
b
: an ingenious or novel mechanical device : gadget
2
a
: an important element (such as a requirement or condition) that is not immediately apparent : catch
The person on the other end of the phone said, "Doesn't that sound good?" I replied, "Yes, it does, but what's the gimmick?"—
Gwen Johnson
Gwen Johnson
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
James Poniewozik
c
: a trick or device used to attract business or attention
a marketing gimmick
gimmicked; gimmicking; gimmicks
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
Lyssanoel Frater, USA Today, 6 Nov. 2025
The early days of Zohran Mamdani’s primary campaign were heavy with gimmicks.
—Clio Chang, Curbed, 5 Nov. 2025
Alfred Konuwa, Forbes.com, 13 July 2025
Start your engines Mouse gimmicks aside, Nintendo is leaning heavily on two first-party exclusives to convince customers that the system is worth buying in the crucial early window after its June 5 launch.
—ArsTechnica, 3 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for gimmick
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Noun
The reason isn’t a single discount or gimmick.
—Lyssanoel Frater, USA Today, 6 Nov. 2025
The early days of Zohran Mamdani’s primary campaign were heavy with gimmicks.
—Clio Chang, Curbed, 5 Nov. 2025
Verb
Jacy Jayne Jordynne Grace and newcomer Blake Monroe have been doing an odd couples gimmick similar to Zaria and Sol Ruca.
—Alfred Konuwa, Forbes.com, 13 July 2025
Start your engines Mouse gimmicks aside, Nintendo is leaning heavily on two first-party exclusives to convince customers that the system is worth buying in the crucial early window after its June 5 launch.
—ArsTechnica, 3 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for gimmick
Cite this Entry
“Gimmick.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/gimmick. Accessed 8 Nov. 2025.
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