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Definition of widget

widget

/ˈwɪdʒ.ɪt/
wid · get

Plural:widgets
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widget Lexical Profile

widget Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

A modular, interactive graphical user interface (GUI) element, such as a button, scrollbar, or small self-contained application displayed on a screen.

Example

"The developer added a live weather forecast widget to the dashboard of the mobile application."


2

A small mechanical device or manufactured item, typically used as a placeholder name when the specific name is unknown, forgotten, or irrelevant.

Example

"The assembly line is capable of producing thousands of identical metal widgets every hour."


3

An abstract or hypothetical manufactured good used as a generic example in economic models, business courses, and supply chain analyses.

Example

"In the textbook example, students must calculate the marginal cost for a factory to produce one additional widget."

Synonyms
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• Rhymes for widget

Word Origin & Etymology

Coined in the United States in the 1920s, likely as an alteration or portmanteau of 'gadget', originally serving as a placeholder name for any small, unspecified manufactured item.

Usage Trend

Historical frequency of usage in published text.

180019102020

Cite this Entry


Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Widget. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/widget
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