: 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 ct scanner
Examples of scanner in a Sentence
a price scanner at a supermarket
Recent Examples on the Web
The Tesco stores trialling the scanner will be Cheshunt Extra – an avocado stone’s throw from the retailer’s global headquarters – and Colchester Superstore in Essex, Stratford upon Avon Superstore in Warwickshire, Wokingham Superstore in Berkshire and Salisbury Extra in Wiltshire.
—
Mark Faithfull, Forbes.com, 3 Sep. 2025
Some travelers may still be asked to remove their shoes for additional screening, and passengers who trigger the alarm at scanners or magnetometers will be required to remove their shoes for additional screening as well.
—Mariyam Muhammad, Cincinnati Enquirer, 2 Sep. 2025
Walmart does not have in-store price check scanners, so consumers must use the Walmart app, ask an associate to scan the tags, or bring the tag to checkout to confirm the price for tags whose price has been removed.
—Dave Smith, Fortune, 2 Sep. 2025
Covert consciousness was first detected in 2006, when researchers asked an unresponsive woman and healthy volunteers to imagine doing specific tasks while in a brain scanner.
—Andrew Chapman, Scientific American, 31 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for scanner
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Mark Faithfull, Forbes.com, 3 Sep. 2025
Some travelers may still be asked to remove their shoes for additional screening, and passengers who trigger the alarm at scanners or magnetometers will be required to remove their shoes for additional screening as well.
—Mariyam Muhammad, Cincinnati Enquirer, 2 Sep. 2025
Walmart does not have in-store price check scanners, so consumers must use the Walmart app, ask an associate to scan the tags, or bring the tag to checkout to confirm the price for tags whose price has been removed.
—Dave Smith, Fortune, 2 Sep. 2025
Covert consciousness was first detected in 2006, when researchers asked an unresponsive woman and healthy volunteers to imagine doing specific tasks while in a brain scanner.
—Andrew Chapman, Scientific American, 31 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for scanner
Cite this Entry
“Scanner.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/scanner. Accessed 9 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationKids 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
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