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

• tool
• appliance
• gizmo
• contraption
• widget
• accessory
• mechanism
• innovation
• gismo

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 iconic items fit well in this book given how many Avengers don’t feel complete without a gadget or mystical item to carry into battle. —Rob Wieland, Forbes.com, 17 Sep. 2025

The Arts District Market This store will sell a variety of travel necessities, including tech gadgets and small items. —Phillip Molnar, San Diego Union-Tribune, 16 Sep. 2025

Carrying it around feels more like lugging a speaker than a dainty portable gadget, but that handle makes moving it between rooms surprisingly manageable. —PC Magazine, 16 Sep. 2025

What this means for you This research brings us closer to safe, at-home or small-scale recycling kits that could recover silver from old gadgets. —Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 14 Sep. 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