thermostat

American  

[thur-muh-stat] / ˈθɜr məˌstæt /

noun

• thermostats
  plural

1. a device, including a relay actuated by thermal conduction or convection, that functions to establish and maintain a desired temperature automatically or signals a change in temperature for manual adjustment.

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verb (used with object)

thermostatted, thermostated, thermostatting, thermostating

1. to equip or control with a thermostat.

thermostat British  

/ ˈθɜːməˌstæt /

noun

1. a device that maintains a system at a constant temperature. It often consists of a bimetallic strip that bends as it expands and contracts with temperature, thus breaking and making contact with an electrical power supply

2. a similar device that actuates equipment, such as a sprinkler, when a certain temperature is reached

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thermostat Scientific  

/ thûr′mə-stăt′ /

1. A device that automatically controls heating or cooling equipment in such a way as to maintain a temperature at a constant level or within a specified range, generally using a thermometer capable of triggering electrical switches that activate or deactivate the equipment.

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thermostat Cultural  

1. A device that monitors and automatically responds to changes in temperature and activates switches controlling devices such as furnaces or air conditioners.

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• thermostatic
  adjective
• thermostatically
  adverb

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• thermostats
  plural

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Etymology

Origin of thermostat

First recorded in 1825–35; thermo- + -stat

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Explanation

If your house is always too cold in the winter, you might need to adjust the thermostat, or the dial that controls the indoor temperature. Most devices that emit heat have a thermostat, which controls how hot or cold things get. Car engines, electric blankets, furnaces, and ovens are all equipped with thermostats so that people can change the temperature, or in the case of cars, so that the car itself can keep the engine at the ideal temperature. The noun thermostat comes from the Greek word for heat, thermos, plus statos, or "a standing."

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

thermostat thermostats thermostated

The thermostat in the room had been set to 81 degrees to make it even more unpleasant.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 9, 2026

During the World Cup, I was able to upgrade the AC unit, added a smart thermostat and invested in landscaping, which we want to do more of.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 23, 2026

In the winter, Elaine rarely turns the heating on, and when she does she keeps the thermostat at a low 13C.

From BBC ● Jul. 21, 2026

"Raise your thermostat as high as is comfortably safe," the company urged, while calling on residents to delay using laundry, dishwashers and electric vehicle chargers until after 8:00 pm.

From Barron's ● Jul. 1, 2026

A thermostat clicked off and a heater stopped humming.

From "Black Swan Green" by David Mitchell

He also noted that security on devices like thermostats or home cameras "has historically been very weak."

From Barron's ● Oct. 13, 2026

Under the agreement, Voltus will pay homes and businesses to reduce power consumption during times of peak demand and make use of technology including home batteries and smart thermostats to manage that.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 3, 2026

Experts say millions of households have turned down radiators and thermostats, taken shorter showers, blocked draughts and found ways to keep the heating off in certain rooms to lower bills.

From BBC ● May 26, 2026

Decentralized infrastructure solutions are available now, such as rooftop solar and energy storage, and distributed energy resources including heat pumps and smart thermostats.

From MarketWatch ● Nov. 5, 2025

Tools, bells, batteries, unusual circuits, burglar alarms, annunciator systems, thermostats, circuit breakers, time alarms, and other apparatus used in bell circuits are described from the standpoints of their application, construction and repair.

From Aviation Engines Design?Construction?Operation and Repair by Victor Wilfred Pag?

Soon some 450 great paintings were racked on pipeline scaffolds set up in the huge, thermostated hall where Financier Stotesbury once gave concerts for 1,000 guests.

From Time Magazine Archive

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