1
a
: a mechanical device for secretly and dishonestly controlling gambling apparatus
b
: an ingenious or novel mechanical device : gadget
2
a
: an important feature that is not immediately apparent : catch
… few readers would look for a gimmick in an advertisement featuring airline schedules, but few would fail to look for the fine print in an ad announcing New Low-Price Fares.—
Robert L. Heilbroner
Robert L. Heilbroner
b
: an ingenious and usually new scheme or angle
Even in professional careers, mere competence and craftsmanship is no substitute for a gimmick.—James Poniewozik
James Poniewozik
c
: a trick or device used to attract business or attention
a marketing gimmick
gimmicked; gimmicking; gimmicks
Synonyms
Examples of gimmick in a Sentence
Noun
The proposal to cut taxes was just an election gimmick to win votes.
that free dinner is just a sales gimmick to get you to listen to their sales pitch
Recent Examples on the Web
Shamira Ibrahim, Vulture, 4 Nov. 2024
This resulted in a string of odd gimmicks for Corbin, including Happy Corbin and a relationship with JBL.
—Marco Rubio, Newsweek, 2 Nov. 2024
Daron Acemoglu, Fortune, 6 Aug. 2024
Depending on the precise circumstances under which the United Kingdom leaves the EU, nationalists or unionists will be in a far stronger position to gimmick the long-term odds in their favor.
—Henry Farrell, Foreign Affairs, 29 Mar. 2018
See all Example Sentences for gimmick 
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Noun
Her being constantly out of the loop in the show may become a gimmick that works.
—Shamira Ibrahim, Vulture, 4 Nov. 2024
This resulted in a string of odd gimmicks for Corbin, including Happy Corbin and a relationship with JBL.
—Marco Rubio, Newsweek, 2 Nov. 2024
Verb
But this requires much more reliable AI models—not gimmicks such as large language models that can write Shakespearean sonnets.
—Daron Acemoglu, Fortune, 6 Aug. 2024
Depending on the precise circumstances under which the United Kingdom leaves the EU, nationalists or unionists will be in a far stronger position to gimmick the long-term odds in their favor.
—Henry Farrell, Foreign Affairs, 29 Mar. 2018
See all Example Sentences for gimmick
Dictionary Entries Near gimmick
Cite this Entry
“Gimmick.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/gimmick. Accessed 22 Nov. 2024.
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