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 package was live for about an hour and was installed on 15 real systems, including a security company’s malware scanner, allowing Claude to obtain and use that company’s credentials. — Beatrice Nolan, Fortune, 31 July 2026

Those figures reveal the scary truth about what scanners cannot see. — Abby Kearns, Forbes.com, 28 July 2026

Suspects fled the scene in a white Jeep Cherokee that was flagged by Flock cameras near Rancho Cordova, according to scanner audio, where at least two people were stopped. — Corey Schmidt, Sacbee.com, 26 July 2026

Police scanner traffic indicated officers were clearing the mall and evacuating stores, though officials have not publicly confirmed those details. — Michael Sinkewicz, FOXNews.com, 26 July 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