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 of gadget

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

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

This smart headlight is a serious tech gadget that packs a punch at 800 lumens. —Erica Zazo, Outside, 27 Mar. 2026

Our picks run the gamut—from home decor gems to high-tech gadgets, skin-care gift sets to culinary staples— but are still selective enough to feel special during the big unboxing reveal. —Kate McGregor, Architectural Digest, 26 Mar. 2026

And don’t forget your grill gadgets, like wireless meat thermometers from ThermoPro. —Adam Campbell-Schmitt, Bon Appetit Magazine, 25 Mar. 2026

Red-light therapy and skin-care gadgets aren’t anything new, but tech innovation is now extending into body care. —Conçetta Ciarlo, Vogue, 23 Mar. 2026

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