contrivance

Noun

• the act of devising something

• any improvised arrangement for temporary use

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

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

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

• a device or control that is very useful for a particular job

Related words

• Synonyms: 
  devisal , lash-up , stratagem , dodge , appliance , contraption , convenience , gadget , gizmo , gismo , widget