widget

American  

[wij-it] / ˈwɪdʒ ɪt /

noun

1. a small mechanical device, as a knob or switch, especially one whose name is not known or cannot be recalled; gadget.

   a row of widgets on the instrument panel.

2. something considered typical or representative, as of a manufacturer's products.

   the widgets coming off the assembly line.

3. Digital Technology. a module on a website, in an application, or in the interface of a device that allows users to access information or perform a function.

   I added a weather widget to my screen.

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widget British  

/ ˈwɪdʒɪt /

noun

1. informal any small mechanism or device, the name of which is unknown or temporarily forgotten

2. a small device in a beer can which, when the can is opened, releases nitrogen gas into the beer, giving it a head

3. a small computer program that can be installed on and executed from the desktop of a personal computer

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Etymology

Origin of widget

First recorded in 1925–30; perhaps alteration of gadget

Explanation

A widget is a tool that's perfect for a specific job, like the widget you use to open the door of your ancient car, or the widgets on your webpage that link to your social media accounts. Widget is commonly used to mean "gadget," the word that inspired this American English term. If your grandpa tinkers with tools and gizmos in his garage, he's definitely got widgets in there. Sometimes theoretical products or goods are also called widgets: "Say you build a widget factory right here on Main Street..." When it comes to computers, a widget is code that does a specific job, often taking you from one site to another in a single click.

Example Sentences

Wanting to keep the widget but not the ads, the 49-year-old in Edgewater, Md., made sure his home router’s ad-blocking software extended to his fridge.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 23, 2026

A widget helps walk through the options and will calculate how much of the investment you need to make for the desired monthly benefit.

From MarketWatch • Dec. 17, 2025

Candidates in a real process would be able to log their issue with the on-screen help widget and receive a new link to restart the assessment, the company's VP of product, Claudia Baijens, says.

From BBC • Dec. 8, 2025

It also runs substantive service journalism, like this column, by Michael J. Coren, about the threat of climate change on homeowners, with a widget that can assess the vulnerability of specific counties.

From Slate • Oct. 29, 2024

To activate widget A, insert doohickey B into slot C. Looking for a dangler?

From "Woe Is I" by Patricia T. O'Conner

Related Words

• gizmo