scanner

noun

scan·​ner ˈska-nər How to pronounce scanner (audio)
: 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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
According to Miyadera, the most difficult part of the project was designing a scanner that could function in a high-radiation environment. Aman Tripathi, Interesting Engineering, 15 Oct. 2025 Spencer Platt | Getty Images More than 1 million children around the world have used Lego’s toy MRI scanner sets in preparation for their medical procedures, the toymaker announced today. Alex Harring, CNBC, 13 Oct. 2025 According to the police scanner, police were responding to a call from a tow truck driver who told cops two men were shooting at each other with rifles. David J. Neal, Miami Herald, 9 Oct. 2025 The scan follows an injection of a radioactive form of glucose that provides a signal picked up by the scanner. Hannah Millington, MSNBC Newsweek, 7 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for scanner

Word History

First Known Use

1556, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of scanner was in 1556

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Scanner.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/scanner. Accessed 21 Oct. 2025.

Kids Definition

scanner

noun
scan·​ner ˈskan-ər How to pronounce scanner (audio)
: 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 How to pronounce scanner (audio)
: a device (as a CT scanner) for making scans of a living body

More from Merriam-Webster on scanner

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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