: one that scans: such as
a
: a device for sensing recorded data (as in a bar code)
a supermarket scanner
b
: a radio receiver that sequentially scans a range of frequencies for a signal
c
: a device that scans an image (such as a photograph) or document (such as a page of text) especially for use or storage on a computer
d
: a medical device for scanning a living body to collect diagnostic information see also ct scanner
Examples of scanner in a Sentence
a price scanner at a supermarket
Recent Examples on the Web
Personalised programme The experience begins with a session on the 3D body scanner, which analyses your body’s composition, takes 14 measurements, assesses your flexibility and calculates your metabolic age.
—
Jaymi McCann, TheWeek, 4 June 2026
The paper ballots would arrive that very night at the county’s election center and they’d be run through scanners as fast as they could be taken out of the containers and lined up in a tray.
—Susan Shelley, Oc Register, 3 June 2026
According to a Facebook post by FOX59 anchor Angela Ganote, Fields and his wife were stunned when a scanner later indicated the ticket was worth only $20.
—Anthony Thompson, USA Today, 3 June 2026
What if the work badge at the end of your lanyard had a touchscreen, 5G connectivity, a camera, microphones, and a fingerprint scanner?
—ArsTechnica, 2 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for scanner
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Jaymi McCann, TheWeek, 4 June 2026
The paper ballots would arrive that very night at the county’s election center and they’d be run through scanners as fast as they could be taken out of the containers and lined up in a tray.
—Susan Shelley, Oc Register, 3 June 2026
According to a Facebook post by FOX59 anchor Angela Ganote, Fields and his wife were stunned when a scanner later indicated the ticket was worth only $20.
—Anthony Thompson, USA Today, 3 June 2026
What if the work badge at the end of your lanyard had a touchscreen, 5G connectivity, a camera, microphones, and a fingerprint scanner?
—ArsTechnica, 2 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for scanner
Cite this Entry
“Scanner.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/scanner. Accessed 10 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
scanner
noun
scan·ner
ˈskan-ər 
: one that scans: as
a
: a device that senses recorded information
b
: a radio receiver that scans a range of frequencies for a signal
c
: a device that scans an image or document especially for use or storage on a computer
d
: a device for scanning a living body to collect medical information
Medical Definition
scanner
noun
scan·ner
ˈskan-ər
: a device (as a CT scanner) for making scans of a living body
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