contrivance
noun
con·triv·ance
kən-ˈtrī-vən(t)s 
1
a
: a thing contrived
especially
: a mechanical device
modern contrivances to cook food faster
b
: an artificial arrangement or development
Mistaken identity is used as a plot contrivance in the story.
2
: the act or faculty of contriving : the state of being contrived
Examples of contrivance in a Sentence
The story is filled with plot contrivances that do not fit the ending.
He told the story honestly and without contrivance.
a contrivance to get out of doing the work
He convinced her to go without using contrivance.
Recent Examples on the Web
The new bosses’ high-class problems are always tertiary to the Josh-Lindsay-Ashley-Austin quadfecta and never stop feeling tacked-on, even when plot contrivances transport the entire ensemble to Seoul for the finale.
—
Alison Herman, Variety, 16 Apr. 2026
The very setup suggests a screenwriter whose sense of psychology is defined with arid literalism by his own just-so, cut-to-fit contrivances.
—Richard Brody, New Yorker, 7 Apr. 2026
Even those unfamiliar with the story are likely to scoff at the new plot contrivances.
—Jon O'Brien, IndieWire, 19 Mar. 2026
That was complemented by what was known as a Tony Gwynn SoloHitter contrivance, through which four chords connected to a baseball would reset the ball to its waist-high starting point after each thwacking during all hours of the day.
—Kansas City Star, 6 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for contrivance
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Alison Herman, Variety, 16 Apr. 2026
The very setup suggests a screenwriter whose sense of psychology is defined with arid literalism by his own just-so, cut-to-fit contrivances.
—Richard Brody, New Yorker, 7 Apr. 2026
Even those unfamiliar with the story are likely to scoff at the new plot contrivances.
—Jon O'Brien, IndieWire, 19 Mar. 2026
That was complemented by what was known as a Tony Gwynn SoloHitter contrivance, through which four chords connected to a baseball would reset the ball to its waist-high starting point after each thwacking during all hours of the day.
—Kansas City Star, 6 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for contrivance
Cite this Entry
“Contrivance.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/contrivance. Accessed 27 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
contrivance
noun
con·triv·ance
kən-ˈtrī-vən(t)s
: something (as a scheme or mechanical device) produced with skill and cleverness
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