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

• 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

The sPHENIX detector at Brookhaven National Laboratory’s Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider (RHIC) proved its precision in measuring the aftermath of gold ion collisions. —Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 4 Sep. 2025

Since 9/11, tens of thousands of detectors have been deployed at ports and border checkpoints. —Jeremy Bogaisky, Forbes.com, 2 Sep. 2025

Tucked away in two black-curtained rooms elsewhere in her home are two polygraph examiners with lie-detector machines plugged in and ready to go. —Peter Larsen, Oc Register, 29 Aug. 2025

When SPHEREx takes pictures of the sky, the light is sent to six detectors that can capture different wavelengths of light, or exposures. —Eric Lagatta, USA Today, 28 Aug. 2025

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