gadget

noun

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

Synonyms

• appliance
• contraption
• contrivance
• gimmick
• gizmo
• gismo
• jigger
• widget

Examples of gadget in a Sentence

The kitchen is equipped with all the latest gadgets.

cell phones, pagers, and other gadgets

Recent Examples on the Web

The new Matter also gives manufacturers the option of embedding NFC tags inside smart home gadgets. —ArsTechnica, 7 May 2025

If your router supports it, use device-level firewall rules to limit which services or internet connections your smart gadgets can access. —Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 6 May 2025

Researchers unveiled a cluster of vulnerabilities in Apple’s wireless media streaming platform AirPlay this week that leave millions of third-party devices like speakers and TVs vulnerable to takeover if an attacker is on the same Wi-Fi network as the victim gadget. —Matt Burgess, Wired News, 3 May 2025

Lightweight and comfortable to hold, this is one of those small-but-revolutionary gadgets–and for only $7, why not give it a spin? Don't have an e-Reader yet? —Cierra Cowan, PC Magazine, 30 Apr. 2025

Word History

Etymology

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

First Known Use

1886, 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