gimmick

1 of 2

noun

gim·​mick ˈgi-mik How to pronounce gimmick (audio)
1
a
: a mechanical device for secretly and dishonestly controlling gambling apparatus
b
: an ingenious or novel mechanical device : gadget
2
a
: an important feature that is not immediately apparent : catch
… few readers would look for a gimmick in an advertisement featuring airline schedules, but few would fail to look for the fine print in an ad announcing New Low-Price Fares.Robert L. Heilbroner
b
: an ingenious and usually new scheme or angle
Even in professional careers, mere competence and craftsmanship is no substitute for a gimmick.James Poniewozik
c
: a trick or device used to attract business or attention
a marketing gimmick
gimmicky adjective

gimmick

2 of 2

verb

gimmicked; gimmicking; gimmicks

transitive verb

1
: to alter or influence by means of a gimmick
2
: to provide with a gimmick
often used with up

Examples of gimmick in a Sentence

Noun The proposal to cut taxes was just an election gimmick to win votes. that free dinner is just a sales gimmick to get you to listen to their sales pitch
Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
The gimmick here is that all that carnage unfolds with zero dialogue. Brent Lang, Variety, 1 Dec. 2023 The gimmick was that owners had to be macho or their cards could be revoked. James Bandler, ProPublica, 21 Nov. 2023 There are plenty of hunting gimmicks and gadgets that aren’t worth it. The Editors, Field & Stream, 1 Nov. 2023 That particular theater, as a gimmick, parked an ambulance outside the lobby in case anybody fainted. Mikal Gilmore, Rolling Stone, 31 Oct. 2023 This sense of ease pervaded spring’s best shows and clothes, which shirked recent seasons’ gimmicks, flash and frippery and instead brought women feel-good outfits for everyday. WSJ, 6 Oct. 2023 The middle third of the film is poorly paced; horror gimmicks that initially shock are, at times, overused; and the visuals can sometimes feel two-dimensional and bland. Lucas Trevor, Washington Post, 18 Sep. 2023 Yet, this cartoon band has defied the odds, delivered the goods and outlived any questions of being a gimmick. Jim Harrington, SPIN, 8 Nov. 2023 Using it to whole-cloth imitate someone’s voice is really little more than a gimmick. WIRED, 6 Nov. 2023
Verb
Mainline Mario games are often defined by a novel central mechanic, or gimmick, with the more effective ones unlocking a fresh angle on the franchise and the platformer as a genre. Keep Mario Weird, Vulture, 30 Oct. 2023 Soon, promoters added drag races, small jumps, and gimmicks like tug-of-war. Zach Helfand, The New Yorker, 14 Aug. 2023 Eyes on 2024: Fundraising gimmicks galore Two GOP presidential hopefuls are deploying an unusual fundraising tactic: giving their donors cold, hard cash. Chuck Todd, NBC News, 11 July 2023 Pat Brown gimmicked the accounting system to escape raising taxes again before Republican Ronald Reagan ousted him in 1966. Los Angeles Times, 11 May 2020 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'gimmick.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Noun and Verb

origin unknown

First Known Use

Noun

1908, in the meaning defined at sense 1b

Verb

1922, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of gimmick was in 1908

Dictionary Entries Near gimmick

Cite this Entry

“Gimmick.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/gimmick. Accessed 10 Dec. 2023.

Kids Definition

gimmick

noun
gim·​mick
ˈgim-ik
1
a
: an ingenious scheme or device
b
: a trick or device used to attract business or attention
a marketing gimmick
2
: an important feature that is not immediately apparent
gimmicky
-i-kē
adjective

More from Merriam-Webster on gimmick

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