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 company is more likely to partner with medical tech companies rather than consumer gadget makers in future collaborations to ensure accuracy, Hale said. —Lisa Eadicicco, CNN Money, 17 Dec. 2025

Speculation about those new devices ranges from glasses to a wearable pendant-like gadget. —Jeremy Kahn, Fortune, 17 Dec. 2025

The breakout gadgets of 2025 aren’t the ones shouting the loudest with shiny features or splashy marketing campaigns. —Jennifer Jolly, USA Today, 16 Dec. 2025

Dying batteries are the most common reason why people ditch their handsets, so this approach can help people stave off a big spend and keep gadgets out of landfills a good bit longer. —New Atlas, 15 Dec. 2025

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