thermostat

1 of 2

noun

ther·​mo·​stat ˈthər-mə-ˌstat 

: an automatic device for regulating temperature (as by controlling the supply of gas or electricity to a heating apparatus)

also : a similar device for actuating fire alarms or for controlling automatic sprinklers

thermostatic

ˌthər-mə-ˈsta-tik 

adjective

thermostatically

ˌthər-mə-ˈsta-ti-k(ə-)lē 

adverb

thermostat

2 of 2

verb

thermostated ˈthər-mə-ˌsta-təd  also thermostatted; thermostating also thermostatting

transitive verb

: to provide with or control the temperature of by a thermostat

Examples of thermostat in a Sentence

Noun

I set the thermostat to 68 degrees.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

The program gives customers a $150 bill credit to allow Duke Energy to briefly adjust their thermostat temperature during peak demand. — Claire Harutunian, Charlotte Observer, 7 July 2026

Install smart thermostats This time of year, air conditioning is probably the biggest factor in your energy bill. — Dan Avery, CNBC, 6 July 2026

Here's what to know about your thermostat as the summer continues. — Irene Wright, USA Today, 6 July 2026

Smart speakers, cameras, thermostats, routers, boosters, and connected home devices are items that Dausey says are constantly powered and connected to the internet. — Ashlyn Needham, The Spruce, 5 July 2026

Word History

Etymology

Noun

thermo- + -stat

First Known Use

Noun

1831, in the meaning defined above

Verb

1924, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for thermostat

• acrobat
• autocrat
• automat
• bundesrat
• bureaucrat
• butterfat
• caveat
• chemostat
• copycat
• cryostat
• democrat
• diplomat

Kids Definition

thermostat

noun

ther·​mo·​stat

ˈthər-mə-ˌstat

: a device that automatically controls temperature

thermostatic

ˌthər-mə-ˈstat-ik

adjective

thermostatically

-i-k(ə-)lē

adverb

Medical Definition

thermostat

1 of 2 noun

ther·​mo·​stat ˈthər-mə-ˌstat 

1

: an automatic device for regulating temperature (as by controlling the supply of gas or electricity to a heating apparatus)

2

: a piece of apparatus (as a constant-temperature chamber) regulated by a thermostat

thermostatic

ˌthər-mə-ˈstat-ik 

adjective

thermostatically

-i-k(ə-)lē 

adverb

thermostat

2 of 2 transitive verb

thermostated -ˌstat-əd  or thermostatted; thermostating or thermostatting

: to provide with or control the temperature of by a thermostat

a thermostated centrifuge