detector

noun

de·​tec·​tor di-ˈtek-tər How to pronounce detector (audio)
: one that detects: such as
a
: a device for detecting the presence of electromagnetic waves or of radioactivity
b
: a rectifier of high-frequency current used especially for extracting the intelligence from a radio signal

Examples of detector in a Sentence

using metal detectors to improve safety at airports a motion detector to thwart burglaries
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Hotels are not always required to have carbon monoxide detectors, so packing your own ensures a safe stay. Ramona Saviss, Travel + Leisure, 2 Mar. 2025 Each detector can detect a fire over 1,200 feet away from the line of sight and is designed to identify very small fires at their early stages when the flames are less than three to four feet. Mona Darwish, Orange County Register, 18 Feb. 2025 The neutrino travels through the network of detectors, setting off signals and emitting a bluish light. Ashley Strickland, CNN, 12 Feb. 2025 Additional safety measures, including weapon detectors and extra security personnel, were at the school the next day, WAFF reported. Natalie Demaree, Miami Herald, 11 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for detector

Word History

First Known Use

1541, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of detector was in 1541

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Detector.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/detector. Accessed 16 Mar. 2025.

Kids Definition

detector

noun
de·​tec·​tor di-ˈtek-tər How to pronounce detector (audio)
1
: one that detects or warns
a smoke detector
2
: a device in a radio receiver for changing the high-frequency current of radio waves into current that can vibrate a loudspeaker to reproduce the original sound

Medical Definition

detector

noun
de·​tec·​tor di-ˈtek-tər How to pronounce detector (audio)
: one that detects
especially : a device for detecting the presence of electromagnetic waves or of radioactivity

More from Merriam-Webster on detector

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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