detector

noun

de·​tec·​tor di-ˈtek-tər 

: one that detects: such as

a

: a device for detecting the presence of electromagnetic waves or of radioactivity

b

: a rectifier of high-frequency current used especially for extracting the intelligence from a radio signal

Synonyms

• sensor

Examples of detector in a Sentence

using metal detectors to improve safety at airports

a motion detector to thwart burglaries

Recent Examples on the Web

The anomaly detector agents demonstrated at the event can autonomously identify KPI deviations, automatically open trouble tickets and dynamically adjust system capacity. —Kolawole Samuel Adebayo, Forbes.com, 13 June 2025

Such variations are common given differences in sensitivity and detector locations. —Democrat-Gazette Staff From Wire Reports, Arkansas Online, 12 June 2025

Deep Space Radiation Probe: A small detector that has been monitoring radation levels on Resilience throughout its months-long mission. —Tariq Malik, Space.com, 3 June 2025

Those eight winners included the phishing-centric Norton Genie scam detector as well as NordVPN and Surfshark, both of which primarily focus on VPN protection. —PC Magazine, 14 May 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1541, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing detector

• lie detector
• metal detector
• radar detector
• smoke detector

Rhymes for detector

• bisector
• collector
• connector
• corrector
• defector
• deflector
• director
• dissector
• effector
• ejector
• elector
• erector

Kids Definition

detector

noun

de·​tec·​tor di-ˈtek-tər 

1

: one that detects or warns

a smoke detector

2

: a device in a radio receiver for changing the high-frequency current of radio waves into current that can vibrate a loudspeaker to reproduce the original sound

Medical Definition

detector

noun

de·​tec·​tor di-ˈtek-tər 

: one that detects

especially : a device for detecting the presence of electromagnetic waves or of radioactivity