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

The power of each port (four USB-C, one USB-A) varies depending on how many gadgets are plugged in, up to 160W total. — Cameron Faulkner, The Verge, 21 Oct. 2026

The company has expanded beyond social networking and sells consumer gadgets, including smart glasses, that have also raised privacy concerns after allegations that people are being recorded without their knowledge. — Queenie Wong, Los Angeles Times, 21 Oct. 2026

That’s a hefty price tag, especially at a time when consumers have so many other gadgets, from smartphones to wearable AI devices competing for their dollars. — Sebastian Herrera, Fortune, 20 Oct. 2026

Conan O’Brien introduced Swift’s performance—O’Brian and Swift both worked on Toy Story 5, with O’Brien voicing the film’s potty training gadget Smarty Pants. — Hattie Lindert, Pitchfork, 18 Oct. 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