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.
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 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 30 Jun. 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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