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

But a single detector has 4,000 pixels, and the camera has 189 CCD detectors tracking the sky. —Tereza Pultarova, Space.com, 18 June 2025

To distinguish brain UPEs from background levels of photons in the room, the team also set up separate UPE detectors facing away from the participants. —Conor Feehly, Scientific American, 16 June 2025

Independent reviews highlight other leak detectors on the market which can help to protect homes. —Dianne Plummer, Forbes.com, 6 June 2025

The trooper used a laser speed detector and allegedly found the motorist was going 107 mph, state police said. —Justin Muszynski, Hartford Courant, 3 June 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