contrivance

[ kuhn-trahy-vuhns ]

/ kənˈtraɪ vəns /

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See synonyms for: contrivance / contrivances on Thesaurus.com

noun

something contrived; a device, especially a mechanical one.

the act or manner of contriving; the faculty or power of contriving.

a plan or scheme; expedient.

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Origin of contrivance

First recorded in 1620–30; contrive + -ance

OTHER WORDS FROM contrivance

non·con·triv·ance, nounpre·con·triv·ance, noun

Words nearby contrivance

contributory, contributory negligence, con trick, contrite, contrition, contrivance, contrive, contrived, control, control account, control board

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2022

How to use contrivance in a sentence

While I’m sure it makes perfect sense to the algorithm, the result is an exceedingly strange, questionably authentic mix of moods, genre conventions and contrivances.
Netflix’s My Unorthodox Life Is More Bravo Docusoap Than Real-Life Unorthodox|Judy Berman|July 14, 2021|Time
Despite reality TV being a buzzing hive of manipulations and contrivances, the captain says Sailing Yacht remains, at least in its filming methods, pure.
Is Glenn Shephard, the ‘Below Deck Sailing Yacht’ Captain, the Nicest Guy on Reality TV?|Tim Teeman|May 14, 2021|The Daily Beast
Here, however, the novel ends with unearned sentimentality and cheap contrivance.
Ian McEwan's New Novel Keeps Life at Arm's Length|Nick Romeo|September 11, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The endless succession of quotation marks is its own contrivance, a scrim between Shields and the world.
Is Fiction Worthless? David Shields Think So|Jacob Silverman|February 8, 2013|DAILY BEAST

Baseball: "an incredibly complex contrivance that seems to have been created by a chauvinistic mathematician."
On the Peninsula|Bryan Curtis|April 25, 2011|DAILY BEAST
He dwelt upon this contrivance, until it seemed too complicated for success.
Blackwood's Edinburgh Magazine, No. CCCXXXIX. January, 1844. Vol. LV.|Various
The latter seems to have suggested the contrivance and the former to have done the practical work.
The Recent Revolution in Organ Building|George Laing Miller
"It was by Marius's contrivance that he was placed sentry over the girl," he heard her tell Fortunio, and he thought she sneered.
St. Martin's Summer|Rafael Sabatini
Such a contrivance helps to improve the leeway of so shallow a boat, although not proportionately to the area immersed.
Yachting Vol. 2|Various.
Toward the latter part of his sickness, a rude contrivance was adopted to change his position in bed.
Charles Duran|The Author of The Waldos

British Dictionary definitions for contrivance

contrivance

/ (kənˈtraɪvəns) /

noun

something contrived, esp an ingenious device; contraption

the act or faculty of devising or adapting; inventive skill or ability

an artificial rather than natural selection or arrangement of details, parts, etc

an elaborate or deceitful plan or expedient; stratagem

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

contrivance

Origin of contrivance

OTHER WORDS FROM contrivance

Words nearby contrivance

Words related to contrivance

How to use contrivance in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for contrivance