metal detector

noun

plural metal detectors

: a device that detects the presence of hidden metal: such as

a

: a security device that scans individuals for dangerous objects (such as weapons)

I boarded the plane armed with several frying thermometers, which set off the metal detector …

—Jeffrey Steingarten

Once inside the theater, the crowd had to pass through an airport-style metal detector as a security precaution.

—Richard Zoglin

b

: a handheld apparatus that uses electrical induction (see induction sense 4c) to detect the presence of metallic objects (such as coins or jewelry) buried a short distance underground

A local man using a metal detector stumbled upon the site last March. He found two copper brooches, or pins, measuring four inches across.

—Time for Kids

Examples of metal detector in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The parade along the National Mall is set to feature thousands of police officers and security measures including metal detectors, anti-scale fencing, concrete barriers and drones overhead surveilling the crowd. —Swapna Venugopal Ramaswamy, USA Today, 13 June 2025

Like any other member of the public, Ye was required to take off his belt, empty his pockets, and surrender his electronic devices before going through a metal detector. —Aaron Katersky, ABC News, 13 June 2025

The budget presented to city officials in May showed police, deputies and fire-rescue personnel plus metal detectors taking up about a quarter of the $761,000 budget for the event. —Anthony Man, Sun Sentinel, 7 June 2025

Investigators use a metal detector to collect evidence at the scene of a mass shooting on June 1, 2025 in Hickory, N.C. —CBS News, 4 June 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1880, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for metal detector

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