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

Screens on the kiosks are interactive, enabling workers to communicate issues with their on-the-job handheld devices, including cell phones, body cameras, ring scanners, tablets, wands, RS scanners, or Zebra devices. — David Moin, Footwear News, 24 Sep. 2026

My team’s research has shown popular scanners missing vulnerabilities that were already on CISA’s Known Exploited Vulnerabilities list. — Srinivas Mukkamala, Forbes.com, 24 Sep. 2026

Officials are testing voting touchscreens, ballot scanners and check-in tablets in the run-up to the midterms in an effort to find and mitigate problems before voting starts. — Caleb Groves, AJC.com, 23 Sep. 2026

Court officers noted the ankle monitor, which could be seen outside his pants, and used a handheld scanner on Frett. — Rocco Parascandola, New York Daily News, 23 Sep. 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