1
: a process of writing or printing involving the use of heat
especially : a raised-printing process in which matter printed by letterpress is dusted with powder and heated to make the lettering rise
2
: a technique for detecting and measuring variations in the heat emitted by various regions of the body and transforming them into visible signals that can be recorded photographically (as for diagnosing abnormal or diseased underlying conditions)
also : a similar technique used elsewhere (as on buildings)

Examples of thermography in a Sentence

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.
My next step was to get a thermography scan, which uses a heat-sensing camera to find hot spots in the body. Victoria Uwumarogie, Essence, 17 Jan. 2025 Today, there are any number of small thermal cameras on the market with varying degrees of size and capability, but Thermal Master has added extreme compactness combined with high resolution to its range of cameras for thermography, automotive, and hunting applications. David Szondy, New Atlas, 29 Nov. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1840, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of thermography was in 1840

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Cite this Entry

“Thermography.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/thermography. Accessed 27 Mar. 2025.

Medical Definition

thermography

noun
plural thermographies
: a technique for detecting and measuring variations in the heat emitted by various regions of the body and transforming them into visible signals that can be recorded photographically (as for diagnosing abnormal or diseased underlying conditions)

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