scanner

noun

scan·​ner ˈska-nər 

: 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

The machines print a paper ballot with a QR code, a type of barcode, that scanners use to tally votes. —CBS News, 19 Mar. 2026

Often associated with party balloons, helium is indispensable to magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scanners, aerospace and the manufacture of microchips for artificial intelligence. —Deni Ellis Béchard, Scientific American, 18 Mar. 2026

The scanner is made by Launch and is based on the Android Operating System. —Hartford Courant, 13 Mar. 2026

Yet people still forget, causing congestion at the scanners. —Kayla Kitts, Travel + Leisure, 13 Mar. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1556, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing scanner

• CAT scanner
• CT scanner

Rhymes for scanner

• banner
• branner
• canner
• fanner
• kanner
• manner
• manor
• planner
• spanner
• tanner

Kids 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