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
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Recent Examples of detector
While en route to and from the moon, the four-person Artemis 2 crew will be vigilant, eyeing radiation detectors and listening for caution and warning alarms.
—
Leonard David, Space.com, 31 Mar. 2026
The ground station receives that beam with its telescope, focuses it onto a detector, and converts the optical signal back into digital data.
—Tejasri Gururaj, Interesting Engineering, 30 Mar. 2026
The residue on my fingers might set off bomb detectors at security.
—Simon Shuster, The Atlantic, 27 Mar. 2026
Fines paid by drivers are fueling substantial new revenue for governments, police and the for-profit camera operators, with Miami-Dade’s network of speed detectors generating at least $2 million a month last year — and that doesn’t include the camera networks operated by individual cities.
—Douglas Hanks, Miami Herald, 25 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for detector
Leonard David, Space.com, 31 Mar. 2026
The ground station receives that beam with its telescope, focuses it onto a detector, and converts the optical signal back into digital data.
—Tejasri Gururaj, Interesting Engineering, 30 Mar. 2026
The residue on my fingers might set off bomb detectors at security.
—Simon Shuster, The Atlantic, 27 Mar. 2026
Fines paid by drivers are fueling substantial new revenue for governments, police and the for-profit camera operators, with Miami-Dade’s network of speed detectors generating at least $2 million a month last year — and that doesn’t include the camera networks operated by individual cities.
—Douglas Hanks, Miami Herald, 25 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for detector
Recent Examples of Synonyms for detector
sensor
Noun
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While some people with private insurance pay zero or very little, others pay hundreds of dollars each month on top of other costs for their diabetes, like pumps, blood glucose sensors and other supplies.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
2 Apr. 2026
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Based on real‑time force sensor data, the robotic arm autonomously guided a docking plug to draw circles, triangles, and straight lines on a drawing board.—
Neetika Walter,
Interesting Engineering,
1 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Detector.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/detector. Accessed 3 Apr. 2026.
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