: 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 ct scanner
Examples of scanner in a Sentence
a price scanner at a supermarket
Recent Examples on the Web
After police officers permitted to carry firearms were factored out of one study at a Bronx hospital, the scanners were found to be accurate less than 1 percent of the time.
—
Dell Cameron Andrew Couts, WIRED, 6 Apr. 2024
Cesari, who was allegedly present at all the robberies, often used a police scanner to help keep a watch for authorities, prosecutors claim.
—Aimee Picchi, CBS News, 5 Apr. 2024
Charlotte Observer reporting that year showed mixed results for the scanners early in their use.
—Gavin Off, Charlotte Observer, 1 Apr. 2024
Adams said the city would perform its own analysis of the scanners’ accuracy.
—Karen Matthews, Fortune, 29 Mar. 2024
Using an electromagnetic scanner fine enough to discern signals from different parts of an IC, the Texas and Intel team was unable to crack the key in their test chip, even after 40 million attempts.
—IEEE Spectrum, 28 Feb. 2024
The Transportation Security Administration has new scanners that take your picture to verify your identity.
—Christopher Elliott, USA TODAY, 29 Mar. 2024
Evolv’s scanners have reportedly flagged umbrellas as guns but failed to detect aluminum and steel tubes that were cut to look like gun barrels
Evolv’s scanners look like metal detectors but are equipped with AI.
—Gaby Del Valle, The Verge, 28 Mar. 2024
Los Angeles' subway became the first mass transit system in the U.S. to install body scanners to detect weapons in 2018.
—Meredith Deliso, ABC News, 28 Mar. 2024
Dell Cameron Andrew Couts, WIRED, 6 Apr. 2024
Cesari, who was allegedly present at all the robberies, often used a police scanner to help keep a watch for authorities, prosecutors claim.
—Aimee Picchi, CBS News, 5 Apr. 2024
Charlotte Observer reporting that year showed mixed results for the scanners early in their use.
—Gavin Off, Charlotte Observer, 1 Apr. 2024
Adams said the city would perform its own analysis of the scanners’ accuracy.
—Karen Matthews, Fortune, 29 Mar. 2024
Using an electromagnetic scanner fine enough to discern signals from different parts of an IC, the Texas and Intel team was unable to crack the key in their test chip, even after 40 million attempts.
—IEEE Spectrum, 28 Feb. 2024
The Transportation Security Administration has new scanners that take your picture to verify your identity.
—Christopher Elliott, USA TODAY, 29 Mar. 2024
Evolv’s scanners have reportedly flagged umbrellas as guns but failed to detect aluminum and steel tubes that were cut to look like gun barrels
Evolv’s scanners look like metal detectors but are equipped with AI.
—Gaby Del Valle, The Verge, 28 Mar. 2024
Los Angeles' subway became the first mass transit system in the U.S. to install body scanners to detect weapons in 2018.
—Meredith Deliso, ABC News, 28 Mar. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'scanner.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near scanner
Cite this Entry
“Scanner.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/scanner. Accessed 24 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationKids 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
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