gadget

noun

gad·​get ˈga-jət How to pronounce gadget (audio)
: an often small mechanical or electronic device with a practical use but often thought of as a novelty
gadgetry noun
gadgety adjective

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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
That being said, some travel essentials stay packed and ready—the gear, gadgets, and go-tos that make every trip that much easier. Samantha Leal, Travel + Leisure, 29 Oct. 2025 This signals Noetix’s interest in cultivating a developer community around Bumi, treating it as a participatory platform rather than a closed gadget. Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 27 Oct. 2025 These gadgets include single or double kettlebell handles, an EZ curl bar, a straight bar, plus an optional pulley system and set of elastic resistance bands. New Atlas, 27 Oct. 2025 Newsweek spoke to a child psychologists who shared that happiness in the home is not defined by material possessions like toys, clothes or gadgets—but is instead built on a foundation of love, clear boundaries and consistent routines. Lucy Notarantonio, MSNBC Newsweek, 26 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for gadget

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of gadget was in 1886

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Gadget.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/gadget. Accessed 31 Oct. 2025.

Kids Definition

gadget

noun
gad·​get ˈgaj-ət How to pronounce gadget (audio)
: an interesting, unfamiliar, or unusual device with a practical use
gadgetry noun

More from Merriam-Webster on gadget

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