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

The gadget is also handy for non-reading tasks, like taking group selfies from far away on your phone. —Madeline Merinuk, PEOPLE, 10 Apr. 2026

My personal cure is using my gadgets to temporarily escape reality. —Juhi Wadia, PC Magazine, 8 Apr. 2026

But which of these gadgets actually deliver results — and which ones are little more than expensive distractions? —Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Miami Herald, 8 Apr. 2026

This doesn't mean there are no changes, as certain gadgets work and react differently based on physics. —Fran Ruiz, Space.com, 8 Apr. 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