widget

noun

wid·​get ˈwi-jət 

1

: gadget

2

: an unnamed article considered for purposes of hypothetical example

3

: a small software application that is designed to provide a specific piece of information (such as news, weather, or traffic updates) or a specific function (such as taking notes or controlling another application) on demand

This resource allows anglers to see what advisories are in effect in specific waterways … . The web page is optimized for mobile devices, with a widget that allows users to zoom to their exact location on the map with the press of a button.

—Chris Knauss

A widget might show you the weather forecast, or the latest baseball scores. There are widgets that show photographs you've stored online, or that cull images from the Daily Puppy Web site.

—Rob Walker

Synonyms of widget

• gadget

Examples of widget in a Sentence

manufacturers of all kinds of widgets for the do-it-yourselfer

Recent Examples on the Web

Compal/iF Design View gallery - 6 images Compal’s award-winning AI Book concept adds a color E Ink display to the laptop’s palm rest area, turning otherwise unused space into a stylus-friendly workspace for notes, widgets, and AI prompts. —New Atlas, 6 Mar. 2026

The Suite Team plan ($55 per person per month, billed annually) adds basic AI features (generative replies), a live chat widget, phone support, several AI tools for building a knowledge base, and support for more social media apps (WhatsApp and Instagram). —John Brandon, PC Magazine, 6 Mar. 2026

Use the map widget below to find and evaluate tax relief companies in your area before making a decision. —Dan Simms, USA Today, 27 Feb. 2026

Those domains powered legitimate extension features like weather widgets and new tab pages. —Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 6 Jan. 2026

Word History

Etymology

alteration of gadget

First Known Use

1924, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for widget

• digit
• fidget
• midget