widget
Americannoun
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widgets
plural
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a small mechanical device, as a knob or switch, especially one whose name is not known or cannot be recalled; gadget.
a row of widgets on the instrument panel.
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something considered typical or representative, as of a manufacturer's products.
the widgets coming off the assembly line.
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Digital Technology. a module on a website, in an application, or in the interface of a device that allows users to access information or perform a function.
I added a weather widget to my screen.
noun
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informal any small mechanism or device, the name of which is unknown or temporarily forgotten
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a small device in a beer can which, when the can is opened, releases nitrogen gas into the beer, giving it a head
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a small computer program that can be installed on and executed from the desktop of a personal computer
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
Etymology
Origin of widget
First recorded in 1925–30; perhaps alteration of gadget
Explanation
A widget is a tool that's perfect for a specific job, like the widget you use to open the door of your ancient car, or the widgets on your webpage that link to your social media accounts. Widget is commonly used to mean "gadget," the word that inspired this American English term. If your grandpa tinkers with tools and gizmos in his garage, he's definitely got widgets in there. Sometimes theoretical products or goods are also called widgets: "Say you build a widget factory right here on Main Street..." When it comes to computers, a widget is code that does a specific job, often taking you from one site to another in a single click.
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.
See Examples For:
A few weeks ago, I biked to meet a source for coffee, since my Android phone’s AccuWeather widget had seemingly projected a low, low chance of precipitation in the area.
From Slate ● Aug. 21, 2026
They run as a rectangular banner at the bottom—part of a widget that also shows news, the weather and a calendar.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Mar. 23, 2026
A merger of widget makers doesn’t lend itself to TV coverage festooned with clips of A-list stars and memorable film and TV scenes.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Feb. 17, 2026
Candidates in a real process would be able to log their issue with the on-screen help widget and receive a new link to restart the assessment, the company's VP of product, Claudia Baijens, says.
From BBC ● Dec. 8, 2025
To activate widget A, you insert doohickey B into slot C. Or you can delete the you, since it’s understood to be the subject.
From "Woe Is I" by Patricia T. O'Conner
A humdrum company making widgets might snag a better valuation by remaining private until it became more established.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 29, 2026
But today, as A.I. widgets ooze through every crack of our digital lives, our reflexive outrage at the overreach is starting to wear down.
From Slate ● Apr. 23, 2026
Technology and social media and artificial intelligence have turned us into widgets or worse, vessels for “engagement.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 8, 2026
They even added iOS widgets and Siri shortcuts recently – “Hey Siri, turn on my VPN” actually works.
From Salon ● Feb. 11, 2026
"I just certainly can't sit still; it gives me the widgets."
From The Dorrance Domain by Carolyn Wells
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Get a wordDefinitions 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.
