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

At that time, checkpoint scanners were effectively digital shadow puppets. —Eric Sullivan, Scientific American, 29 Jan. 2026

The magnetic intensity achieved is roughly 12 to 24 times stronger than that of a hospital MRI scanner and more than 700,000 times stronger than Earth’s natural magnetic field. —Sujita Sinha, Interesting Engineering, 28 Jan. 2026

According to the scanner, police identified a possible male suspect wearing a blue surgical mask in a parking lot. —Devoun Cetoute, Miami Herald, 28 Jan. 2026

After the film has changed color, it can be placed in the scanner and an image can be captured by the smartphone's camera. —New Atlas, 28 Jan. 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