contrivance meaning and definition

CONTRIVANCE noun

Definition of contrivance (noun)

1. a device or control that is very useful for a particular job
   • synonyms: appliance, contraption, convenience, gadget, gismo, gizmo, widget
2. the faculty of contriving; inventive skill
   • "his skillful contrivance of answers to every problem"
3. 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
4. an artificial or unnatural or obviously contrived arrangement of details or parts etc.
   • "the plot contained too many improbable contrivances to be believable"
5. any improvised arrangement for temporary use
   • synonyms: lash-up
6. the act of devising something
   • synonyms: devisal