spectrometer

noun

spec·​trom·​e·​ter spek-ˈträ-mə-tər 

1

: an instrument used for measuring wavelengths of light spectra

2

: any of various analytical instruments in which an emission (as of particles or radiation) is dispersed according to some property (such as mass or energy) of the emission and the amount of dispersion is measured

nuclear magnetic resonance spectrometer

spectrometric

ˌspek-trə-ˈme-trik 

adjective

spectrometry

spek-ˈträ-mə-trē 

noun

Examples of spectrometer in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

These modifications included installing dedicated research stations and complex wiring to connect payload systems equipped with advanced sensors, such as lidar and infrared spectrometers. —Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 24 Apr. 2026

Flying is the company’s second Nova-C lander named Athena featuring NASA’s PRIME-1 drill, to land a drill and mass spectrometer near the south pole of the moon in order to demonstrate the feasibility of in-situ resource utilization (ISRU) and measure the volatile content of subsurface samples. —Richard Tribou, The Orlando Sentinel, 19 Apr. 2026

Sebree and his colleagues use spectrometers to identify nutrient trails and other mineral buildups on cave walls that can sustain ecosystems in the dark. —Becky Ferreira, Wired News, 15 Apr. 2026

There wasn’t much point, Neal said, in adding spectrometers or other types of instruments to the Artemis II crew’s toolkit. —Stephen Clark, ArsTechnica, 9 Apr. 2026

Word History

Etymology

International Scientific Vocabulary

First Known Use

1874, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for spectrometer

• barometer
• bolometer
• chronometer
• geometer
• hydrometer
• hygrometer
• kilometer
• micrometer
• odometer
• photometer
• psychrometer
• pycnometer

Kids Definition

spectrometer

noun

spec·​trom·​e·​ter spek-ˈträm-ət-ər 

1

: an instrument for producing a spectrum

2

: an instrument that spreads particles or radiation into an ordered sequence (as by mass or energy)

Medical Definition

spectrometer

noun

spec·​trom·​e·​ter spek-ˈträm-ət-ər 

1

: an instrument used for measuring wavelengths of light spectra

2

: any of various analytical instruments in which an emission (as of particles or radiation) is dispersed according to some property (as mass or energy) of the emission and the amount of dispersion is measured

nuclear magnetic resonance spectrometer

spectrometric

ˌspek-trə-ˈme-trik 

adjective

spectrometry

spek-ˈträm-ə-trē 

noun

plural spectrometries