contrivance

/kənˈtraɪvəns/

Other forms: contrivances

A contrivance is a gadget or device that can be used for some particular purpose. The spinning blade of a blender is a contrivance that turns fruits and yogurt into a tasty smoothie. Yum.

A contrivance is a useful device or tool. It might be assembled or invented, and it's often mechanical, although you can really refer to anything that's made for a specific purpose as a contrivance. The word sometimes also implies a falseness or obviousness, like the contrivance of a spy's very fake-looking beard that's supposed to disguise him, or the contrivance of a novel's complicated, unbelievable plot.

Definitions of contrivance

1. noun

   the faculty of contriving; inventive skill
   “his skillful contrivance of answers to every problem”

   type of:

   conception, design, excogitation, innovation, invention

   the creation of something in the mind
2. noun

   the act of devising something
   synonyms: devisal

   type of:

   invention

   the act of inventing
3. noun

   a small mechanical device or tool
   synonyms: appliance, contraption, convenience, gadget, gismo, gizmo, widget

   types:

   gadgetry

   appliances collectively

   gimbal

   an appliance that allows an object (such as a ship's compass) to remain horizontal even as its support tips

   injector

   a contrivance for injecting (e.g., water into the boiler of a steam engine or particles into an accelerator etc.)

   mod con

   modern convenience; the appliances and conveniences characteristic of a modern house

   type of:

   device

   an instrumentality invented for a particular purpose
4. noun

   any improvised arrangement for temporary use
   synonyms: lash-up

   types:

   patch, temporary hookup

   a connection intended to be used for a limited time

   type of:

   arrangement

   an orderly grouping (of things or persons) considered as a unit; the result of arranging
5. noun

   an artificial or unnatural or obviously contrived arrangement of details or parts etc.
   “the plot contained too many improbable contrivances to be believable”

   type of:

   arrangement, organisation, organization, system

   an organized structure for arranging or classifying
6. noun

   an elaborate or deceitful scheme contrived to deceive or evade
   “his testimony was just a contrivance to throw us off the track”

   synonyms: dodge, stratagem

   types:

   plant

   something planted secretly for discovery by another

   pump-and-dump scheme

   an illegal scheme for making money by manipulating stock prices; the schemer persuades other people to buy the stock and then sells it himself as soon as the price of the stock rises

   wangle, wangling

   an instance of accomplishing something by scheming or trickery

   type of:

   scheme, strategy

   an elaborate and systematic plan of action