Contrivance — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

noun /kən-ˈtrī-vən(t)s/ con·triv·ance

Meaning & Definition of Contrivance

Contrivance (noun)

  1. a thing contrived; especially, a mechanical device
  2. an artificial arrangement or development
  3. the act or faculty of contriving, the state of being contrived

Contrivance (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. an interesting and often novel device with a practical use

    "a new contrivance for cleaning computer keyboards"

    similar: appliance, contraption, gadget, gimmick, gizmo, jigger, widget
    related: implement, instrument, tool, utensil, ingenuity, innovation, invention, accessory, adjunct, mechanism, trick, dingus, doodad, doohickey, hickey, hootenanny (chiefly dialect), thingamabob, thingamajig, thingummy

  2. something (as a device) created for the first time through the use of the imagination

    "despite the many modern contrivances for saving time and labor, we seem to have less leisure and energy than ever before"

    similar: brainchild, coinage, concoction, creation, innovation, invention, wrinkle
    related: contraption, device, gadget, gizmo, novelty, design, product, work, dream, fantasy, picture, vision, conception, imagining, origination
    near: carbon copy, clone, copy, dupe, duplicate, duplication, facsimile, imitation, reduplication, replica, replication, reproduction

  3. the ability to form mental images of things that either are not physically present or have never been conceived or created by others

    "in that writer's hands, narrative contrivance can often deteriorate into pointless gimmickry"

    similar: creativity, fancy, fantasy, ideation, imagination, imaginativeness, invention, inventiveness, originality
    related: brainstorm, brainstorming, inspiration, fecundity, fertility, ingenuity, resourcefulness, versatility, chimera, daydream, delusion, dream, figment, hallucination, illusion, mind's eye, mirage, phantasm, pipe dream, envisaging, visualization
    near: literality, literalness

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Contrivance

The most common words with a similar meaning to Contrivance:

appliance, contraption, gadget, gimmick, gizmo, jigger, widget, brainchild, coinage, concoction, creation, innovation, invention, wrinkle, creativity, fancy, fantasy, ideation, imagination, imaginativeness, inventiveness, originality

Related Words for Contrivance

implement, instrument, tool, utensil, ingenuity, accessory, adjunct, mechanism, trick, dingus, doodad, doohickey, hickey, hootenanny, thingamabob, thingamajig, thingummy, device, novelty, design, product, work, dream, picture, vision, conception, imagining, origination, brainstorm, brainstorming

Near Antonyms of Contrivance

carbon copy, clone, copy, dupe, duplicate, duplication, facsimile, imitation, reduplication, replica, replication, reproduction, literality, literalness

Origin & Etymology of Contrivance

contrive + -ance

First known use: circa 1628

Frequently Asked Questions about Contrivance

What does "Contrivance" mean?

"Contrivance" means a thing contrived; especially, a mechanical device. As a noun, it is defined as: a thing contrived; especially, a mechanical device. It has 3 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Contrivance"?

Other words for "Contrivance" include appliance, contraption, gadget, gimmick, gizmo, jigger, widget and brainchild. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Contrivance" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Contrivance"?

There are 69 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Contrivance". Common alternatives include appliance, contraption, gadget, gimmick, gizmo, jigger, widget, brainchild, coinage and concoction.

How do you use "Contrivance" in a sentence?

Examples of "Contrivance" in a sentence: "a new contrivance for cleaning computer keyboards"; "despite the many modern contrivances for saving time and labor, we seem to have less leisure and energy than ever before"; "in that writer's hands, narrative contrivance can often deteriorate into pointless gimmickry".

Is "Contrivance" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Contrivance" is a noun.

How do you pronounce "Contrivance"?

"Contrivance" is pronounced /kən-ˈtrī-vən(t)s/ and divided into syllables as con·triv·ance.

What is the origin of the word "Contrivance"?

"Contrivance" comes from contrive + -ance. First known use: circa 1628.

What is another word for "Contrivance" meaning "an interesting and often novel device with a practical use"?

When "Contrivance" (noun) means an interesting and often novel device with a practical use, synonyms include appliance, contraption, gadget, gimmick, gizmo and jigger.