near-infrared

adjective

near-in·​fra·​red ˌnir-ˌin-frə-ˈred 

-(ˌ)frä-

: of or relating to the shorter wavelengths of radiation in the infrared spectrum and especially to those between 0.7 and 2.5 micrometers

Examples of near-infrared in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The telescope orbits about 300 miles above Earth's atmosphere and can capture images across wavelengths of light that the human eye cannot see, spanning from ultraviolet to near-infrared. —Julia Gomez, USA Today, 12 Feb. 2026

Through near-infrared interferometry, a process that combines light from multiple telescopes, the CHARA Array was able to capture in high resolution the rapidly changing conditions of their early post-explosion phase. —Ritsuko Kawai, Wired News, 19 Jan. 2026

So let’s review: red light, yellow light, green light, blue light, LED, nanometers, near-infrared, far-infrared, 510 (k). —Brennan Kilbane, Allure, 15 Jan. 2026

The solar energy would be transferred as near-infrared waves and received by existing solar panels on the ground. —Andrew Moseman, IEEE Spectrum, 12 Jan. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1950, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for near-infrared

• abed
• ahead
• beachhead
• bedspread
• bedstead
• behead
• blackhead
• blockhead
• bloodshed
• bowhead
• breastfed
• bridgehead