magnetometer

noun

mag·​ne·​tom·​e·​ter ˌmag-nə-ˈtä-mə-tər 

: an instrument used to detect the presence of a metallic object or to measure the intensity of a magnetic field

magnetometric

mag-ˌnē-tə-ˈme-trik 

-ˌne-

adjective

magnetometry

ˌmag-nə-ˈtä-mə-trē 

noun

Examples of magnetometer in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Its science instruments are a light ion analyzer, a magnetometer, a soft X-ray imager and an ultraviolet aurora imager. —Andrew Jones, Space.com, 22 Jan. 2025

In 1996, Galileo’s magnetometer picked up on a strange signal emanating from Europa. —science.org, 19 Sep. 2024

Other equipment suggested for the chip include a spectrograph to identify the chemistry of a planet’s atmosphere and a magnetometer to measure a star’s magnetic field. —Ann Finkbeiner, Scientific American, 22 Dec. 2016

Scientists use satellites to track changes in the sun’s temperatures and magnetometers around the world to look for magnetic field fluctuations. —Stephen Ornes, Discover Magazine, 2 Jan. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1827, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

magnetometer

noun

mag·​ne·​tom·​e·​ter ˌmag-nə-ˈtäm-ət-ər 

: an instrument used to detect the presence of a metallic object or to measure the strength of a magnetic field

Medical Definition

magnetometer

noun

mag·​ne·​tom·​e·​ter ˌmag-nə-ˈtäm-ət-ər 

: an instrument used to detect the presence of a metallic object or to measure the intensity of a magnetic field

magnetometric

mag-ˌnēt-ə-ˈme-trik  -ˌnet- 

adjective

magnetometry

ˌmag-nə-ˈtäm-ə-trē 

noun

plural magnetometries