: 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 also ct scanner
Examples of scanner in a Sentence
a price scanner at a supermarket
Recent Examples on the Web
Most small jewelry items are a non-issue for body scanners, but larger, bulkier pieces may need to go into a bin.
—
Amelia McBride, Travel + Leisure, 17 May 2026
Georgia's touch-screen voting machines print a paper ballot that includes a human-readable list of voters' selections and a QR code that a scanner reads to count votes.
—CBS News, 17 May 2026
Schoon then realized the staff didn’t know how to override the new scanner and tabulator to prevent it from rejecting the provisional ballots.
—Shelley Jones, Chicago Tribune, 16 May 2026
The device may feature an ultrasonic fingerprint scanner and symmetrical dual speakers.
—Ewan Spence, Forbes.com, 16 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for scanner
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Amelia McBride, Travel + Leisure, 17 May 2026
Georgia's touch-screen voting machines print a paper ballot that includes a human-readable list of voters' selections and a QR code that a scanner reads to count votes.
—CBS News, 17 May 2026
Schoon then realized the staff didn’t know how to override the new scanner and tabulator to prevent it from rejecting the provisional ballots.
—Shelley Jones, Chicago Tribune, 16 May 2026
The device may feature an ultrasonic fingerprint scanner and symmetrical dual speakers.
—Ewan Spence, Forbes.com, 16 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for scanner
Cite this Entry
“Scanner.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/scanner. Accessed 21 May. 2026.
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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