widget

noun

wid·​get ˈwi-jət 

1

: gadget

2

: an unnamed article considered for purposes of hypothetical example

3

: a small software application that is designed to provide a specific piece of information (such as news, weather, or traffic updates) or a specific function (such as taking notes or controlling another application) on demand

This resource allows anglers to see what advisories are in effect in specific waterways … . The web page is optimized for mobile devices, with a widget that allows users to zoom to their exact location on the map with the press of a button.

—Chris Knauss

A widget might show you the weather forecast, or the latest baseball scores. There are widgets that show photographs you've stored online, or that cull images from the Daily Puppy Web site.

—Rob Walker

Synonyms

• appliance
• contraption
• contrivance
• gadget
• gimmick
• gizmo
• gismo
• jigger

Examples of widget in a Sentence

manufacturers of all kinds of widgets for the do-it-yourselfer

Recent Examples on the Web

That moment, in hindsight, proved to be the summit of my career in the widget business. —Neal B. Freeman, National Review, 3 June 2024

An interactive widget should be faster overall for doing something like turning on a light, locking a door, or checking the temperature. —Jennifer Pattison Tuohy, The Verge, 30 May 2024

For example, the Wear OS updates require the 2021-vintage Wear OS 3, the cross-device services need at least 2020’s Android 11, and the smart-home widget and digital car-key updates require the three-year-old Android 12. —Rob Pegoraro, PCMAG, 30 May 2024

Much like the prior model, the eight-inch Show 8 remains an excellent smart display for streaming and video calling, one that offers superior sound and supports up to four widgets at a time. —Sheena Vasani, The Verge, 20 May 2024

Word History

Etymology

alteration of gadget

First Known Use

1924, in the meaning defined at sense 1