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detector

noun

di-ˈtek-tər How to pronounce detector (audio)
Definition of detectornext
as in sensor
a device that detects some physical quantity and responds usually with a transmitted signal a motion detector to thwart burglaries

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of detector The detectors continued cooling afterward toward their eventual operating temperature of about -300 F (-183 C). — Josh Dinner, Space.com, 16 Sep. 2026 The still unanswered question has led to ever more sensitive detector technology and a deeper understanding of what dark matter isn’t. — Jeanna Bryner, Scientific American, 15 Sep. 2026 The detector registered an unusual particle interaction in June 2023 that generated a flash of light and cautious excitement. — Jacopo Prisco, CNN Money, 14 Sep. 2026 High-tech elements—motion-detectors, geothermal heat pumps, space-age insulation and the like—complement the old-school practices. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 11 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for detector
Recent Examples of Synonyms for detector
sensor
Noun
  • Georgia Tech engineers have developed a wireless networking system that lets tiny implants communicate through body tissue, potentially allowing sensors in one part of the body to trigger treatment somewhere else.
    — Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 25 Sep. 2026
  • Its instruments included a color camera, a thermal infrared sensor, an ultraviolet spectrometer and a mass spectrometer to study (both to study particles in the Martian atmosphere).
    — Tariq Malik, Space.com, 24 Sep. 2026
Definition of sensor

Phrases Containing detector

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detectives
detector
detectors
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Cite this Entry

“Detector.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/detector. Accessed 29 Sep. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on detector

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about detector

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