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

• tool
• appliance
• gizmo
• contraption
• widget
• accessory
• mechanism
• innovation
• gismo

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

Best Buy: There’s no shortage of tech deals to be found at Best Buy, where hundreds of laptops, appliances, headphones, and more gadgets are currently on sale — including this 98-inch Smart TV that’s $1,200 off. —Averi Baudler, People.com, 24 June 2025

Now, thanks to the development of GaN technology, a power supply can be small enough to fit in a coat pocket and have enough outlets and muscle to power the most demanding laptops and gadgets. —Mark Sparrow, Forbes.com, 23 June 2025

No one told me these everyday objects—found in toys, remotes, and household gadgets—could be deadly. —Christopher Hale, MSNBC Newsweek, 21 June 2025

Signals detected by the electrodes travel from the brain to a compact device implanted in the chest, which then wirelessly transmits the data to an external computer or gadget. —Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 21 June 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