1
: one that sniffs: such as
a
: someone who sniffs a drug or other substance in order to become intoxicated
a cocaine/glue sniffer
b
or less commonly sniffer dog
: a dog that is trained to recognize and follow scents especially for the purpose of locating people or contraband (such as illicit drugs and explosives)
2
informal
: nose
Use your sniffer to detect unattractive or unhealthy odors.—
Susan DeBow
Susan DeBowExamples of sniffer in a Sentence
Sniffers were brought in to search bags at the airport.
Recent Examples on the Web
All visitors pass through airport-style metal detectors and security guards with sniffer dogs walked around the conference center.
—Mike Corder, Quartz, 7 Mar. 2024
Protect your pets Related Articles Keep a close eye on curious dogs when out for walks and hikes, especially if your pup is an avid sniffer or likes to dig.
—Julia Lamont, The Mercury News, 9 Jan. 2024
The sniffer also could detect smoke, a sign of human activity.
—Susanne Rust, Los Angeles Times, 1 Mar. 2024
So, whether your pup needs relief from dry winter air or regular upkeep to keep their sniffer in top shape, Puppington's Nose Balm is sure to do the trick.
—Amber Smith, Discover Magazine, 21 May 2023
The other three compounds were detected by the human sniffers but eluded the mass spectrometer.
—Jennifer Ouellette, Ars Technica, 19 May 2023
Packages included panoramic cameras, imaging radar, electro-optical sensors, communication relays, and even air sniffers designed to detect traces of radiation in the atmosphere from nuclear weapons tests.
—Kyle Mizokami, Popular Mechanics, 9 Aug. 2023
Border guards, who use sniffer dogs, loudspeakers and powerful spotlights on patrols, say multiple incidents involving up to 1,000 migrants aren't uncommon in a single day during the summer and early fall when water levels along the Evros hit an annual low.
—Derek Gatopoulos, BostonGlobe.com, 23 Dec. 2022
Earlier this month, Chinese researchers published a paper in Nature Communications that details a small, soft, wireless olfactory device that might finally give your sniffer something to do.
—IEEE Spectrum, 19 May 2023
Mike Corder, Quartz, 7 Mar. 2024
Protect your pets Related Articles Keep a close eye on curious dogs when out for walks and hikes, especially if your pup is an avid sniffer or likes to dig.
—Julia Lamont, The Mercury News, 9 Jan. 2024
The sniffer also could detect smoke, a sign of human activity.
—Susanne Rust, Los Angeles Times, 1 Mar. 2024
So, whether your pup needs relief from dry winter air or regular upkeep to keep their sniffer in top shape, Puppington's Nose Balm is sure to do the trick.
—Amber Smith, Discover Magazine, 21 May 2023
The other three compounds were detected by the human sniffers but eluded the mass spectrometer.
—Jennifer Ouellette, Ars Technica, 19 May 2023
Packages included panoramic cameras, imaging radar, electro-optical sensors, communication relays, and even air sniffers designed to detect traces of radiation in the atmosphere from nuclear weapons tests.
—Kyle Mizokami, Popular Mechanics, 9 Aug. 2023
Border guards, who use sniffer dogs, loudspeakers and powerful spotlights on patrols, say multiple incidents involving up to 1,000 migrants aren't uncommon in a single day during the summer and early fall when water levels along the Evros hit an annual low.
—Derek Gatopoulos, BostonGlobe.com, 23 Dec. 2022
Earlier this month, Chinese researchers published a paper in Nature Communications that details a small, soft, wireless olfactory device that might finally give your sniffer something to do.
—IEEE Spectrum, 19 May 2023
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'sniffer.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near sniffer
Cite this Entry
“Sniffer.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sniffer. Accessed 23 Apr. 2024.
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