contrivance

Universal Words noun (formal) 1 [C,U] (usually disapproving) something that sb has done or written that does not seem natural; the fact of seeming artificial: The film is spoilt by unrealistic contrivances of plot. * The story is told with a complete absence of contrivance. * Examinations are a contrivance to see how a student tackles new problems. 2 [C] a clever or complicated device or tool made for a particular purpose: His workshop was full of mechanical contrivances. 3 [C,U] a clever plan or trick; the act of using a clever plan or trick: an ingenious contrivance to get her to sign the document without reading it