widget

noun

wid·​get ˈwi-jət 

1

: gadget

2

: an unnamed article considered for purposes of hypothetical example

3

: a small software application that is designed to provide a specific piece of information (such as news, weather, or traffic updates) or a specific function (such as taking notes or controlling another application) on demand

This resource allows anglers to see what advisories are in effect in specific waterways … . The web page is optimized for mobile devices, with a widget that allows users to zoom to their exact location on the map with the press of a button.

—Chris Knauss

A widget might show you the weather forecast, or the latest baseball scores. There are widgets that show photographs you've stored online, or that cull images from the Daily Puppy Web site.

—Rob Walker

Synonyms

• gadget

Examples of widget in a Sentence

manufacturers of all kinds of widgets for the do-it-yourselfer

Recent Examples on the Web

Apple users will soon be able to access any widgets from installed apps via their vehicle's infotainment system. —Charles Singh, USA Today, 15 Aug. 2025

The interface largely centers on clock faces and widgets — small software features that are typically dedicated to specific tasks. Charismatic, which was previously known as Pebble and Rock earlier in development, blends the approach of the Apple TV and Apple Watch operating systems. —Bloomberg, Mercury News, 14 Aug. 2025

Tap Launcher and add the widget to your cover screen. —Prakhar Khanna, Forbes.com, 13 Aug. 2025

At some point, the benefit of adding another worker or widget is outweighed by the cost. —Michael Gfoeller and David H. Rundell, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 Aug. 2025

Word History

Etymology

alteration of gadget

First Known Use

1924, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for widget

• digit
• fidget
• midget