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

Every few years, a new app or gadget promises to tell you what your pet is thinking. —Shaw Walters, Forbes.com, 23 Jan. 2026

OpenAI, which hired former Apple design guru Jony Ive, is planning to release an AI gadget this year that may have a similar form factor. —Alexei Oreskovic, Fortune, 22 Jan. 2026

Space-saving gadgets of all sizes abound at Amazon, starting with a unique toaster that takes up about 50% less counter space. —Brittany Vanderbill, Better Homes & Gardens, 21 Jan. 2026

There are gadgets available that attach to your washer to hold the door ajar. —Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 21 Jan. 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