Any situation, goal, or device that sets a story in motion. An element of a story that drives the plot, and about which the characters care a great deal, but that ultimately has little to do with the main action, story, or theme of the work and holds little interest for the audience. Secret plans, formulae, and documents are typical MacGuffins. Kroon, R. W. A/V a to z: An encyclopedic dictionary of media, entertainment and other Audiovisual terms. McFarland, 2014.