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

Smart wearables can be useful as feedback, but for many senior leaders, the most powerful productivity tool is not another app or gadget. — Marie Holive, Forbes.com, 4 Aug. 2026

The showstoppers of summer are the Butter Boy and Butter Girl Corn Butters, fan-favorite gadgets that turn heads at every summer event. — ABC News, 3 Aug. 2026

Best Amazon Home Deals Cleaning gadgets, bedding, patio furniture, and more home goods are on sale in spades right now. — Clara McMahon, PEOPLE, 1 Aug. 2026

The masked hero pops a power-inhibitor gadget on Jean, allowing Damage Control honcho Bill Metzger (Tramell Tillman) to capture her. — Brian Truitt, USA Today, 1 Aug. 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