sniffer

noun

sniff·​er ˈsni-fər 

1

: one that sniffs: such as

a

: someone who sniffs a drug or other substance in order to become intoxicated

a cocaine/glue sniffer

b

or less commonly sniffer dog : a dog that is trained to recognize and follow scents especially for the purpose of locating people or contraband (such as illicit drugs and explosives)

2

informal : nose

Use your sniffer to detect unattractive or unhealthy odors.

—Susan DeBow

Examples of sniffer in a Sentence

Sniffers were brought in to search bags at the airport.

Recent Examples on the Web

Her earliest moments in the show have shades of a western—No Country for Old Men with a side of devout Trump supporters, sniffer dogs, petrifying cronies, and balloons stuffed with fentanyl and swallowed with lube. —Radhika Seth, Vogue, 9 Apr. 2026

Brazilian police seized a record 48 tons of marijuana in a favela in Rio de Janeiro, uncovered by chance by a sniffer dog during a regular operation against criminal factions. —CBS News, 8 Apr. 2026

Iranian forces used sniffer dogs to locate him but failed. —Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 6 Apr. 2026

Police declined to provide details, but said extra officers in uniform and plainclothes, sniffer dogs, cameras and other measures were being used to protect the relics. —Nicole Winfield, Los Angeles Times, 22 Feb. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1864, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for sniffer

• differ
• stiffer