thermostat

1 of 2

noun

ther·​mo·​stat ˈthər-mə-ˌstat How to pronounce thermostat (audio)
: an automatic device for regulating temperature (as by controlling the supply of gas or electricity to a heating apparatus)
also : a similar device for actuating fire alarms or for controlling automatic sprinklers
thermostatic adjective
thermostatically adverb

thermostat

2 of 2

verb

thermostated ˈthər-mə-ˌsta-təd How to pronounce thermostat (audio) also thermostatted; thermostating also thermostatting

transitive verb

: to provide with or control the temperature of by a thermostat

Examples of thermostat in a Sentence

Noun I set the thermostat to 68 degrees.
Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
Plus, our top pick for the best smart thermostat is on sale. Bellamy Richardson, wsj.com, 17 Nov. 2023 This handsome sweater vest is a good lightweight layer to wear at home and to keep you warm on chilly days without the need to turn up the thermostat. Jeanette Marantos, Los Angeles Times, 1 Nov. 2023 And now through November 5th, Verge readers can get $75 off the thermostat with code NLTVERGE75. Brandon Widder, The Verge, 26 Oct. 2023 In Florida, sea-level rise is worsening the risks of high-tide flooding and storm surge from hurricanes, in addition to turning up the thermostat on already humid heat. Smithsonian Magazine, 13 Sep. 2023 Tawni Eckley, a fourth-grade teacher in Loveland, Colorado, returned to her unconditioned classroom in a brick school building this week and a thermostat that on Thursday read 84 degrees. Daniella Silva, NBC News, 19 Aug. 2023 Despite being a top-tier Matter member, Resideo still hasn’t adopted Matter in its products, such as the Honeywell Home T9 thermostat. Jennifer Pattison Tuohy, The Verge, 23 Oct. 2023 Even in Japan, not all buildings are cooled equally: Shops and restaurants tend to keep their thermostats low to ensure their customers’ comfort. Hisako Ueno, New York Times, 24 Sep. 2023 Last election, there was a report of a would-be president who wanted his hotel thermostat dropped to a near-arctic 60°. Jason Gay, WSJ, 22 Sep. 2023 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'thermostat.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Noun

thermo- + -stat

First Known Use

Noun

1831, in the meaning defined above

Verb

1924, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of thermostat was in 1831

Dictionary Entries Near thermostat

Cite this Entry

“Thermostat.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/thermostat. Accessed 1 Dec. 2023.

Kids Definition

thermostat

noun
ther·​mo·​stat
ˈthər-mə-ˌstat
: a device that automatically controls temperature
thermostatic
ˌthər-mə-ˈstat-ik
adjective
thermostatically
-i-k(ə-)lē
adverb

Medical Definition

thermostat

1 of 2 noun
ther·​mo·​stat ˈthər-mə-ˌstat How to pronounce thermostat (audio)
1
: an automatic device for regulating temperature (as by controlling the supply of gas or electricity to a heating apparatus)
2
: a piece of apparatus (as a constant-temperature chamber) regulated by a thermostat
thermostatic adjective
thermostatically adverb

thermostat

2 of 2 transitive verb
thermostated -ˌstat-əd How to pronounce thermostat (audio) or thermostatted; thermostating or thermostatting
: to provide with or control the temperature of by a thermostat
a thermostated centrifuge

More from Merriam-Webster on thermostat

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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