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What exactly is a contraption?
In the words of one Little Mermaid, “I’ve got gadgets and gizmos a-plenty.” It would have been on-theme (though perhaps a bit clunky) for the aquatic princess to include in her siren song the word contraption. Synonymous with both gadget and gizmo, and widget too, in referring to mechanical and electronic devices, contraption is also one of a raft of terms people reach for when talking about various human-made bits and bobs, whether mechanical or not. (It's thought to have possibly been formed as a blend of contrivance, trap, and invention.) Want more thingamabob words? Try doohickey, thingamajig, dingus, or doodad.
Examples of contraption in a Sentence
Alec Lewis, New York Times, 17 Oct. 2025
The futuristic contraption, currently on display at the 2025 Osaka Expo, has already drawn massive interest and intrigue from the crowds.
—Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 14 Oct. 2025
Her sartorial concoctions rivaled the contraptions of Rube Goldberg.
—Emily Zemler, Rolling Stone, 13 Oct. 2025
In a contraption of his own making, Glenn Curtiss took to the skies in 1911, boldly becoming the first American to fly a seaplane in a quick trip from Coronado’s North Island to San Diego Bay.
—Gary Robbins, San Diego Union-Tribune, 12 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for contraption
Cite this Entry
“Contraption.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/contraption. Accessed 23 Oct. 2025.
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contraption
noun
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