sensor
noun
ˈsen(t)-sər
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Sensors are used today almost everywhere. Radar guns bounce microwaves off moving cars. A burglar alarm may use a photosensor to detect when a beam of light has been broken, or may use ultrasonic sound waves that bounce off moving objects. Still other sensors may detect pressure (barometers) or chemicals (Breathalyzers and smoke detectors). Stud finders, used by carpenters to locate wooden studs under a wall, may employ magnets or radar. Wired gloves, which relay information about the position of the fingers, are used in virtual-reality environments. A cheap car alarm may be nothing but a shock sensor, in which a strong vibration will cause two metal surfaces to come together.
Examples of sensor in a Sentence
Jim Fisher, PC Magazine, 6 Apr. 2026
Back-end optics—light-focusing lenses, tracking sensors, fast-steering mirrors and other components—fine-tune the laser beam.
—Adam Bluestein, Scientific American, 5 Apr. 2026
The tracker uses data collected in real time by sensors on Orion that are sent to the Mission Control Center in Houston.
—Jeanine Santucci, USA Today, 5 Apr. 2026
Boasting a combination of nuclear endurance, stealth, speed, and advanced sensors, the USS New Jersey delivers a versatile undersea combat capability.
—Bojan Stojkovski, Interesting Engineering, 4 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for sensor
Cite this Entry
“Sensor.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sensor. Accessed 8 Apr. 2026.
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sensor
noun
Medical Definition
sensor
noun
ˈsen(t)-sər
