scanner

noun

scan·​ner ˈska-nər 

: one that scans: such as

a

: a device for sensing recorded data (as in a bar code)

a supermarket scanner

b

: a radio receiver that sequentially scans a range of frequencies for a signal

c

: a device that scans an image (such as a photograph) or document (such as a page of text) especially for use or storage on a computer

d

: a medical device for scanning a living body to collect diagnostic information see also ct scanner

Examples of scanner in a Sentence

a price scanner at a supermarket

Recent Examples on the Web

Guests at the Swift-Kelce nuptials reportedly bypassed scanners by going through a separate entrance, per CNN. — Lizzie Lanuza, StyleCaster, 24 July 2026

Guests entering the building typically pass through biometric scanners, after which they can be monitored from camera to camera. — Walden Green, Pitchfork, 23 July 2026

Vulnerability scanners surface what is already exposed and threat intelligence platforms report what adversaries have already done. — Kumar Ritesh, Forbes.com, 22 July 2026

Some people ‘love’ the scanners Reactions to the new price scanners were mixed on social media, and some noted that their Dollar Tree locations have had them for a while. — Drew Pittock, USA Today, 22 July 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1556, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing scanner

• CAT scanner
• CT scanner

Rhymes for scanner

• banner
• branner
• canner
• fanner
• kanner
• manner
• manor
• planner
• spanner
• tanner

Kids Definition

scanner

noun

scan·​ner ˈskan-ər 

: one that scans: as

a

: a device that senses recorded information

b

: a radio receiver that scans a range of frequencies for a signal

c

: a device that scans an image or document especially for use or storage on a computer

d

: a device for scanning a living body to collect medical information

Medical Definition

scanner

noun

scan·​ner ˈskan-ər 

: a device (as a CT scanner) for making scans of a living body