widget

noun

wid·​get ˈwi-jət How to pronounce widget (audio)
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

Examples of widget in a Sentence

manufacturers of all kinds of widgets for the do-it-yourselfer
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Enter the Next-Gen Digital Banking Platform The future isn’t about adding more widgets. Ron Shevlin, Forbes.com, 8 July 2025 Hush said The Volte is also helping retailers like Australia’s largest department store David Jones integrate into the circular economy by offering the customers the option to agree to list their latest purchases on the rental platform with a simple click during checkout through an API widget. Tianwei Zhang, Footwear News, 23 June 2025 In addition to teaming with Google for the Oasis Live ’25 Map Experience AR widget to enhance the experience for fellow Mancs, the band issued a friendly warning to fans to mind the weather for the shows, as temperatures in the high 80s are expected at showtime. Gil Kaufman, Billboard, 11 July 2025 To find a cooling center near you, scroll the map and zoom using the widget in the top right corner. Lily Carey, Chicago Tribune, 29 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for widget

Word History

Etymology

alteration of gadget

First Known Use

1924, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of widget was in 1924

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Widget.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/widget. Accessed 29 Jul. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on widget

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!