Definition of Gadget by Merriam-Webster

To save this word, you’ll need to log in. gad·​get | ˈga-jət : an often small mechanical or electronic device with a practical use but often thought of as a novelty Other Words from gadget gadgetry ˈga-​jə-​trē noun gadgety ˈga-​jə-​tē adjective Examples of gadget in a Sentence The kitchen is […]

gad·​get | ˈga-jət How to pronounce gadget (audio)

: an often small mechanical or electronic device with a practical use but often thought of as a novelty

Other Words from gadget

gadgetry ˈga-​jə-​trē How to pronounce gadgetry (audio) noun
gadgety ˈga-​jə-​tē How to pronounce gadgety (audio) adjective

Examples of gadget in a Sentence

The kitchen is equipped with all the latest gadgets.

cell phones, pagers, and other gadgets

Recent Examples on the Web As recently as 2015, one group of researchers at Tel Aviv University created a $300 gadget that fits in a piece of pita bread and can derive the encryption keys on a nearby laptop’s hard drive by picking up its electrical emissions.


Andy Greenberg, Wired, “Hacker Lexicon: What Is a Side Channel Attack?,” 21 June 2020
More experienced golfers, Ostrom adds, are usually into any gadget that will help improve their game.


Lesley Kennedy, CNN Underscored, “The best golf gear, according to experts,” 18 June 2020
Before the coronavirus pandemic, Chowbotic’s salad-making robot named Sally was mostly seen in the food world as a quirky, non-essential gadget capable of stealing headlines for any business using one.


Justin Phillips, SFChronicle.com, “Salad robots, smoothie robots and vertical farms: Bay Area food automation goes from niche to necessity during pandemic,” 16 June 2020
The gadget evolved to become the graphophone, designed by Alexander Graham Bell, which was later replaced by Emile Berliner’s gramophone.

The Economist, “Sofa sessions The pandemic has brought about a home-studio boom,” 15 June 2020
From the classic bacon, egg and cheese line-up to a more complex cheddar, apple and egg croissant, the opportunities for flavor are endless with this gadget.


Melissa Lee, USA TODAY, “This best-selling breakfast sandwich maker is on sale at a big discount,” 12 June 2020
Digital Trends posts online technology news, gadget reviews and instructional guides.

oregonlive, “Portland tech site Digital Trends acknowledges ‘bro culture,’ diversity failings: ‘we are sorry’,” 12 June 2020
As expected, his initial foray into online relationships generated a lot of blank stares and compulsive gadget fidgeting.


Elissa Strauss, CNN, “How to engage preschoolers on Zoom when social bonding is more important than ever,” 10 June 2020
In response, accessory-makers offered up all kinds of crazy add-ons, from booklight-like gadgets that shone light onto the screen to bulky screen magnifiers with bulbs and batteries in them.


Brendan Nystedt, Wired, “Retro Hackers Are Building a Better Nintendo Game Boy,” 10 June 2020

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word ‘gadget.’ Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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First Known Use of gadget

1886, in the meaning defined above

History and Etymology for gadget

perhaps a sound-symbolic coinage, with final as in fidget entry 1, midget, idjit (nonstandard form of idiot)

Learn More about gadget

Cite this Entry

“Gadget.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/gadget. Accessed 2 Jul. 2020.

More Definitions for gadget

gad·​get | ˈga-jət How to pronounce gadget (audio)

Kids Definition of gadget

: a small useful device that is often interesting, unfamiliar, or unusual

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definition of gadget by The Free Dictionary

Thu Jul 2 , 2020
Also found in: Thesaurus, Legal, Financial, Acronyms, Encyclopedia, Wikipedia. gadg·et (găj′ĭt) n. A small specialized mechanical or electronic device; a contrivance. [Perhaps originally 19th century glassblowers’ jargon gadget, spring-pressure clip at the end of a punty to hold the foot of a glass being blown without creating a mark, probably […]

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