detection

American  

[dih-tek-shuhn] / dɪˈtɛk ʃən /

noun

1. the act of detecting.

2. the fact of being detected.

3. discovery, as of error or crime.

   chance detection of smuggling.

4. Telecommunications.

   1. rectification of alternating signal currents in a radio receiver.

   2. Also called demodulation.  the conversion of an alternating, modulated carrier wave or current into a direct, pulsating current equivalent to the transmitted information-bearing signal.

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detection British  

/ dɪˈtɛkʃən /

noun

1. the act of discovering or the fact of being discovered

   detection of crime

2. the act or process of extracting information, esp at audio or video frequencies, from an electromagnetic wave See also demodulation

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Other Word Forms

• predetection noun

Etymology

Origin of detection

1425–75; late Middle English < Late Latin dētēctiōn- (stem of dētēctiō ), equivalent to Latin dētēct ( us ) ( see detect) + -iōn- -ion

Explanation

Detection is the act of noticing or discovering something. At the airport, you might see German Shepherds trained in the detection of drug smuggling or explosives in luggage. Detection, detect, detective, detector — all are about noticing and discovering. A detective looks for clues that lead to the detection of the person who committed a crime. A metal detector is a machine created for the detection of coins people have left behind on the beach. Some teachers seem to have a third eye they use primarily for the detection of kids passing notes, or checking their cell phones during class.

Example Sentences

“Helium is critical in several stages of semiconductor manufacturing — including cooling, use as a carrier gas and for leak detection — and there are no effective substitutes,” Dennehy wrote.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 26, 2026

The Biobank is a collection of health data offered by UK volunteers which has been used to help improvements in detection and treatment of dementia, some cancers and Parkinson's.

From BBC • Apr. 24, 2026

Likeness detection "looks for AI-generated content with a participant’s likeness, like a deepfake of their face, and gives them the power to find it and request removal."

From Barron's • Apr. 24, 2026

They also use unconventional registration, false flags, concealed ownership and frequently-changed names to avoid detection and escape sanctions levied against countries like Iran, Russia and Venezuela.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 24, 2026

But Bertillonage was already being displaced by a more efficient method of identification that was revolutionizing the world of scientific detection: fingerprinting.

From "Killers of the Flower Moon" by David Grann

Related Words

• disclosure