rhizoverbBeta
DictionarygadgetSmall useful device
noun

gadget

GAJ-it/ˈɡædʒɪt/

A small device designed for a particular practical task.

The folding gadget opens to reveal small pliers and a screwdriver.

A compact folding multitool opened to show a tiny screwdriver and pliers, practical useful device.
Etymology

Its origin is uncertain. It was sailors’ slang for a small mechanical object or ship’s part whose name was unknown or forgotten, before broadening to a useful little device.

In context

Jamie Oliver0:30
you know... old-school kitchen gadget. The pestle and mortar, two bits of rock.
How to Make Homemade Pesto | Jamie Oliver

More examples

  • He bought a gadget for peeling apples.
  • Several gadgets cluttered the counter.
  • This gadget measures soil moisture.

Forms

gadget · gadgets

Similar words

device
A broader term that need not be small.
tool
Emphasizes practical use rather than clever design.