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

Sometimes, though, one little gadget can answer one of my most pressing needs at home. —Nicole Pyles, Better Homes & Gardens, 5 Nov. 2025

The gadget charges via a USB-C port and can also be used while charging. —Maryna Holovnova, New Atlas, 4 Nov. 2025

And just as Shakespeare relentlessly intensified Lear’s individuality, so did Jobs make each gadget more itself, eschewing generic compromise to magnify exceptionality. —Big Think, 3 Nov. 2025

In the meantime, numerous public figures, including OpenAI CEO Sam Altman and gadget reviewer Marques Brownlee, have simply requested the return of their $50,000 deposits and canceled their orders. —PC Magazine, 1 Nov. 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