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Synonyms

gadget

American  
[gaj-it] / ˈgædʒ ɪt /

noun

  1. a mechanical contrivance or device; any ingenious article.

    Synonyms:
    thingamajig, doohickey, whatsis, contraption
gadget British  
/ ˈɡædʒɪt /

noun

  1. a small mechanical device or appliance

  2. any object that is interesting for its ingenuity or novelty rather than for its practical use

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

  • gadgety adjective

Etymology

Origin of gadget

1850–55; origin uncertain; compare French gâchette the catch of a lock, sear of a gunlock

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Ndedi, from Cameroon, uses her acrobatic skills for the most elaborate escapes, Cryptic is the hacker from Kenya and Congolese Fred is the getaway driver and gadget maker.

From BBC • Feb. 9, 2026

Plus, tech billionaires’ ‘Save California’ Signal Chat, highlights from the year’s biggest gadget show, the woman running SpaceX and more, in this edition of the Technology newsletter.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 11, 2026

Nonetheless, at the CES show in Las Vegas, gadget makers have pitched AI pendants as note-takers or ways to remember beautiful or important moments of each day.

From Barron's • Jan. 11, 2026

This handy gadget taps into any nearby Wi-Fi connection — and if there’s no Wi-Fi to be had, you can always use a 4G-dongle or ethernet-USB adapter to utilize the same service.

From Salon • Aug. 26, 2019

The cop held the gadget up to his face as if inspecting it.

From "Anger Is a Gift" by Mark Oshiro

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.