noun
gadget
gaj-iht
noun
1
A small mechanical or electronic device, especially a clever or useful one.
"He collects kitchen gadgets he barely ever uses."
"The new phone has a gadget that scans documents."
2
A general word for a device or gizmo whose exact name someone can't recall.
"Pass me that little gadget for opening jars."
How to Use Gadget
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA small device, especially a clever or novelty one — often electronic.
Common pairings
tech gadget
kitchen gadget
handy gadget
Word Forms
gadgets plural
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Etymology
Origin unclear, first recorded in print in 1886; possibly linked to a French word for a small tool, or to the surname of a French industrialist connected with promotional trinkets for the Statue of Liberty project.