Definitions:

1. an artificial or unnatural or obviously contrived arrangement of details or parts etc. noun
   • the plot contained too many improbable contrivances to be believable
2. an elaborate or deceitful scheme contrived to deceive or evade noun
   • Their testimony was just a contrivance to throw us off the track.

Synonyms:

• appliance
• contraption
• convenience
• devisal
• dodge
• gadget
• gismo
• gizmo
• lash-up
• widget