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 gadget works by utilizing a blue-violet light to attract insects, which are then zapped by a 4200-volt electric grid on contact. —Maggie Horton, PEOPLE, 3 Apr. 2026

With an impressive 36,000 positive reviews, Peeps Eyeglass Lens Cleaner is the clever gadget to keep handy for your eyewear. —Tory Johnson, ABC News, 3 Apr. 2026

These gadgets, imported from China or Russia or homemade in the US with 3D printers, transform a semiautomatic weapon—which fires a single round with each trigger pull—into a fully automatic one, able to discharge at a rate of 1,200 rounds per minute, limited only by the capacity of the magazine. —Simon Akam, Vanity Fair, 2 Apr. 2026

Take careful stock of single-purpose tools, small appliances, specialty gadgets, and novelty mugs. —Jamie Cuccinelli, Martha Stewart, 2 Apr. 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