What is the meaning of the word "macguffin"?

This narrative device is useful because it focuses the audience on the character interactions, conflicts, and motivations that are central to the story, rather than on the details of the MacGuffin itself.

Definitions:

A term used in film and literature to describe an object, device, or event that serves as the trigger for the plot, but which itself is not very important to the overall narrative. NOUN
- In the movie, the mysterious suitcase served as a MacGuffin that set off a wild chase across the city, though its contents were never revealed to the audience.
Concept most associated with filmmaker Alfred Hitchcock, who used the term to explain elements in his movies that drive the story forward, even though they might have little relevance by themselves. NOUN
- During the scriptwriting workshop, the instructor emphasized the effective use of a MacGuffin to maintain suspense and engage viewers throughout the film.
Typically something that characters in a story value greatly and actively pursue or protect, but its specific nature or details are unimportant to the audience. NOUN
- The writer crafted the ancient map as a MacGuffin to drive the adventure forward, pushing characters into new, exciting situations while searching for the lost city.