# wedge vs widget

> English confusable word pair

## The two words

### wedge
*noun · IPA /wɛd͡ʒ/ · frequency rank #12,715*
One of the simple machines; a piece of material, such as metal or wood, thick at one edge and tapered to a thin edge at the other for insertion in a narrow crevice, used for splitting, tightening, securing, or levering.

### widget
*noun · IPA /ˈwɪd͡ʒ.ɪt/ · frequency rank #30,654*
A placeholder name for an unnamed, unspecified, or hypothetical manufactured good or product, typically as an example for purposes of explaining concepts.

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/vs/wedge-vs-widget