From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishcontrivancecon‧triv‧ance /kənˈtraɪvəns/ noun formal 1 [countable] something that is artificial or does not seem natural, but that helps something else to happen – usually used to show disapproval A ridiculous series of plot contrivances moves the film along.2 [countable, uncountable]PLAN a plan or trick to make something happen or get something for yourself, or the practice of doing this Harriet’s matchmaking contrivances3 [countable]MACHINE a machine or piece of equipment that has been made for a special purpose a steam-driven contrivance used in 19th century factories
Examples from the Corpus
contrivance• But the 1996 World Cup was something of a contrivance, a made-for-promotional-purposes event.• This was a steam-driven contrivance used in 19th century clothing factories.• Another visitor who arrived just before the Bigelow party took one look at the flimsy contrivance and declined to descend.• Documentary began to be deserted in favour of contrivance and artifice.• At Midvale and elsewhere, he would invent machines and other contrivances, a number of which he patented.• a plot contrivance• In this way a social contrivance appears to be founded on the natural order of things.• My irritation at the contrivance lasted for 30 seconds.• In the absence of the contrivance, the increase would not occur.• He never was in earnest, Cadfael reflected with certainty, and it would spoil his sport to use contrivance. 