contraption

American  

[kuhn-trap-shuhn] / kənˈtræp ʃən /

noun

1. a mechanical contrivance; gadget; device.

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contraption British  

/ kənˈtræpʃən /

noun

1. informal a device or contrivance, esp one considered strange, unnecessarily intricate, or improvised

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Other Word Forms

• contraptious adjective

Etymology

Origin of contraption

First recorded in 1815–25; perhaps contr(ivance) + (ad)aption, variant of adaptation

Explanation

A contraption is a device that has a specific purpose and is often overly complicated. If your dad yells, “Get that contraption out of here!” He doesn’t appreciate the Rube Goldberg machine you made out of his golf clubs. The word is English, all right, but how it got here is a mystery. It may be from a combination of contrive and adaptation. Contraptions — also called gadgets or gizmos — are devices people make for various purposes. Often, this word is used when someone isn't quite sure what something is, as in "What's that contraption?" Oh that’s just a dog-walking machine made of a roller skate, bacon, and four paper clips.

Example Sentences

Fischbach’s faux submarine was mounted on a hydraulic contraption that could shake the set with the actor-director inside.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 2, 2026

His hair-trigger homemade contraption pressured all three major networks into giving Kiritsis airtime to explain his grievances to the public.

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 8, 2026

And this is not some archaic cinderblock and mortar contraption: It’s a top-of-the-line, high-tech fabrication.

From Slate • Dec. 29, 2025

Step closer and you hear the contraption appearing to breathe, a tinkling sound like wind chimes emanating from the cooling mechanism that keeps its innards colder than outer space.

From Barron's • Dec. 10, 2025

“Shucks,” Jimmy says, his head low over his contraption again.

From "Al Capone Does My Shirts" by Gennifer Choldenko

Related Words

• appliance
• contrivance
• gadget
• gizmo
• rig