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

The high resolution scan creates a virtual 3D model of the site with an accuracy range of less than 2 centimeters, and involves walking around the archaeological site with an instrument called a LiDAR scanner. — Margherita Bassi, Popular Science, 3 Sep. 2026

Transportation Security Administration officers screen those while the flyer spreads their arms out mannequin-style inside a body scanner. — Kathleen Wong, USA Today, 3 Sep. 2026

At the lululab booth, visitors put their faces into a 3D scanner and let an AI grade them. — Christopher Elliott, Forbes.com, 29 Aug. 2026

In one case, the group infected the Trivy vulnerability scanner. — Dan Goodin, ArsTechnica, 28 Aug. 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