pinger

noun

ping·​er ˈpiŋ-ər How to pronounce pinger (audio)
: a device for producing pulses of sound (as for marking an underwater site or detecting an underwater object)

Examples of pinger in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Many underwater vehicles are fitted with an acoustic device, often called a pinger, which emits sounds that can be detected underwater by rescuers. Jenna Russell, New York Times, 20 June 2023 Fishtek invented the banana pinger. Lela Nargi, Washington Post, 17 Aug. 2022 In a landscape of lad-esque masculine Britpop, the Spice Girls were a tonic, a shot of vodka, a slice of lime, and half a pinger. Raven Smith, Vogue, 5 May 2021 The nets are monitored and have electronic pingers to warn away whales, dolphins and other creatures, but people argue that they should be removed during whale migration season, which starts in mid-June. David Williams, CNN, 28 June 2019 Kept that midfield ticking calmly, slotted some peaches of balls in behind numerous times, opened the play up with some nice 40 yard pingers, was defensively sound. SI.com, 19 June 2018 The starstruck researchers took blood samples, checked the shark for parasites, implanted an acoustic pinger in its gut, and even performed an ultrasound—all within 15 minutes and without tranquilizers or anesthetics. Peter Brannen, WIRED, 19 Dec. 2013

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'pinger.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1957, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of pinger was in 1957

Dictionary Entries Near pinger

Cite this Entry

“Pinger.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pinger. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!