transponder
noun
Did you know?
This word was coined during World War II by simply joining pieces of the words transmitter and responder. Transponders are basic to modern aviation and communications satellites, and they're finding new uses in fields such as medicine as well. But they're now also part of everyday life. The "E-ZPass" that lets you drive right through turnpike tollbooths is a transponder, and the car you're driving may not even start unless it recognizes the signal from your personal key's transponder. In a big crowded foot race, you may carry a tiny transponder on your shoe that records when you cross both the starting line and the finish line.
Examples of transponder in a Sentence
Ramon Padilla, USA Today, 15 May 2026
Tehran cemented its grip on the Strait of Hormuz; a few more tankers managed to pass through in the last few days, albeit only by either negotiating in advance with Iran, or by shutting off their transponders and racing through.
—Tim McDonnell, semafor.com, 14 May 2026
However, one of the simplest ways for a ghost ship to vanish like, well, a ghost, is simply to head far out to sea and switch off its transponder – or manipulate it to broadcast false coordinates.
—David Szondy
may 12, New Atlas, 12 May 2026
Both of the crude oil tankers turned off their Automatic Information System transponders weeks ago and were operating covertly.
—CBS News, 8 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for transponder
Cite this Entry
“Transponder.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/transponder. Accessed 21 May. 2026.
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