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

Diffuse optical tomography, or DOT, is an imaging technology that uses near-infrared light to measure total blood hemoglobin concentration and oxygen levels – key indicators of tumor activity – in the breast lump. —Quing Zhu, The Conversation, 6 Apr. 2026

Designed to deliver full-body red-light therapy, the fixture has a detachable light ring that emits red and near-infrared wavelengths of 650 and 850nm. —Jenny Berg, Vogue, 31 Mar. 2026

Early results hinted that red and near-infrared light applied to the head might protect neural tissue after brain injury. —Lynne Peeples, Scientific American, 26 Mar. 2026

The precise location of the fireball was pinpointed by a near-infrared optical detector on a geostationary satellite at 9:01 am ET (13:01 UTC). —Eric Berger, ArsTechnica, 17 Mar. 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