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gadget

gadget, gizmo

noun GAD-jit Rare

Origin: English gadget

Usage Note

Gadget is a direct borrowing from English and is pronounced with the English stress pattern. It carries a slightly dismissive tone in French, suggesting something clever but gimmicky rather than genuinely useful. The derived adjective gadget (invariable) can modify a noun: une mesure gadget means a superficial or cosmetic policy measure.

Examples

"Ce nouvel outil est un simple gadget."

Natural Translation

This new tool is just a gimmick.

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