1. a mechanical device or gadget, especially one that is cleverly designed
2. the act of planning or creating something in a clever or skillful way
3. an artificial or forced quality in something, especially in art or literature

Examples

• The inventor showed us his latest contrivance for opening bottles.
• Through careful contrivance, she managed to surprise him on his birthday.
• The old farmer built a clever contrivance to water his crops automatically.
• The plot of the novel suffered from obvious contrivance.
• His mechanical contrivance saved hours of manual labor.
• The story's ending felt forced due to the author's contrivance.
• She admired the simple contrivance that kept the gate closed.