contraption

[kuhn-trap-shuhn]

noun

1. a mechanical contrivance; gadget; device.

contraption

/ kənˈtræpʃən /

noun

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

Other Word Forms

• contraptious adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of contraption¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of contraption¹

C19: perhaps from _con ( _trivance ) + _trap ¹ + ( _inven ) _tion

Example Sentences

The object of Mouse Trap, a board game featuring a Rube Goldberg-style contraption, is to catch plastic mice.

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The combined contraption will fit in most overhead compartments, but the compact size requires some sacrifices.

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The superstar actor occasionally joined the huddle of people trying to troubleshoot with the contraption.

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They are complicated contraptions with hundreds of parts, every one of which feeds back through wires to the control room.

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They install heat cables in the soil to keep their pumpkins warm, build contraptions to cover them from the sun and add grow-lights for cloudy days.

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Related Words

• appliance 
• contrivance 
• gadget 
• gizmo 
• rig