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

Now is a great time to treat yourself to a new gadget that'll make life a lot easier. —Jessica Kasparian, SELF, 9 July 2025

Certainly, every electronic gadget in your home and car contains copper. —Jim Edwards, Fortune, 9 July 2025

Shoppers are going after clever cleaning gadgets like the Bissell Little Green Carpet Cleaner, which also works on upholstered furniture, as well as the Swiffer PowerMop to make hard floors shine. —Clara McMahon, People.com, 9 July 2025

Some of our favorite budget-friendly tools and gadgets are deeply discounted right now—from fish spatulas and instant-read thermometers to vegetable choppers and prep bowls. —Olivia Tarantino, Bon Appetit Magazine, 8 July 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