detector

noun

de·​tec·​tor di-ˈtek-tər 

: 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

Synonyms of detector

• sensor

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

An agent that autonomously queries cameras and compiles reports sounds efficient, but if the underlying detectors produce false positives, the agent only amplifies errors at scale. —Calvin Yadav, Forbes.com, 26 May 2026

Do have a carbon monoxide detector. —Richard Tribou, The Orlando Sentinel, 24 May 2026

The signal that reaches us from that time is surprisingly uniformly distributed across the sky, no matter where the detectors are pointed. —Manon Bischoff, Scientific American, 23 May 2026

Test detectors regularly and replace batteries annually. —Ryan Brennan may 19, Miami Herald, 19 May 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1541, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing detector

• lie detector
• metal detector
• radar detector
• smoke detector

Rhymes for detector

• bisector
• collector
• connector
• corrector
• defector
• deflector
• director
• dissector
• effector
• ejector
• elector
• erector

Kids Definition

detector

noun

de·​tec·​tor di-ˈtek-tər 

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 

: one that detects

especially : a device for detecting the presence of electromagnetic waves or of radioactivity