: 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 ct scanner
Examples of scanner in a Sentence
a price scanner at a supermarket
Recent Examples on the Web
Creating the technology for revolutionaries operating in an amorphous present, such as the scanner device, was another fascinating challenge.
—
Pat Saperstein, Variety, 27 Sep. 2025
The probe also covers pacemakers, insulin pumps, coronary stents, heart valves, hearing aids, prosthetics, blood glucose monitors, orthopedic appliances, computed tomography scanners and magnetic resonance imaging machines.
—Reuters 12 Hr Ago, CNN Money, 25 Sep. 2025
Weapon detection scanners are coming to all public middle school campuses in Nashville.
—Rachel Wegner, Nashville Tennessean, 24 Sep. 2025
As Ben was loading his things into a scanner bin at a security checkpoint, with 12-year-old Grant in front of him and 19-year-old Michael behind, Ben looked across the X-ray machine and saw Ryan standing on the other side of the conveyor.
—Ted Katauskas, Outside, 23 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for scanner
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Pat Saperstein, Variety, 27 Sep. 2025
The probe also covers pacemakers, insulin pumps, coronary stents, heart valves, hearing aids, prosthetics, blood glucose monitors, orthopedic appliances, computed tomography scanners and magnetic resonance imaging machines.
—Reuters 12 Hr Ago, CNN Money, 25 Sep. 2025
Weapon detection scanners are coming to all public middle school campuses in Nashville.
—Rachel Wegner, Nashville Tennessean, 24 Sep. 2025
As Ben was loading his things into a scanner bin at a security checkpoint, with 12-year-old Grant in front of him and 19-year-old Michael behind, Ben looked across the X-ray machine and saw Ryan standing on the other side of the conveyor.
—Ted Katauskas, Outside, 23 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for scanner
Cite this Entry
“Scanner.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/scanner. Accessed 2 Oct. 2025.
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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