detection

American  

[dih-tek-shuhn] / dɪˈtɛk ʃən /

noun

• detections
  plural

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.

---

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

---

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• predetection
  noun

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• detections
  plural

---

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

See Examples For:

detection detections

"This temporal window holds profound significance, as attaining such early detection would substantially augment the probability of cure and improved survival," highlight the researchers.

From Science Daily ● Oct. 26, 2026

Such hypothetical benefits include progress in healthcare, like the development of bespoke treatments for illnesses and improved disease detection, tailored education and legal advice and making more efficient power grids and batteries.

From BBC ● Oct. 26, 2026

Decades of scientific progress could be condensed into years, accelerating drug discovery, disease detection, and the delivery of personalized therapy.

From BBC ● Oct. 26, 2026

"October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, a time to raise awareness about early detection, education, and support for those affected by breast cancer," Kai Trump wrote on Instagram.

From BBC ● Oct. 24, 2026

This has to be done quickly, what I’m after now, he realized; he hurried down the hall and all at once his detection gear registered the presence of cephalic activity.

From "Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?" by Philip K. Dick

"Our burned-area estimates are conservative for two reasons. First, we exclude individual burn scars smaller than 6.25 hectares... Second, we prioritise avoiding false detections," he said.

From Barron's ● Oct. 19, 2026

Company managers omitted some elevated chemical readings from testing reports, Dixon said, and they told workers who produced too many detections they would be sent home.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 23, 2026

It brings together several types of information, including confirmed detections, environmental conditions that may favor the fly and its larvae, and reports in the news media.

From Science Daily ● Sep. 15, 2026

A spokesperson for California’s Dept. of Pesticide Regulation, which oversees pesticide use, said the EWG report looked at detections of the PFAS, but the state “looks at how the detections compare to federal tolerance levels.”

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 30, 2026

One game was a paper with lines in all detections and lots of boxs.

From "Flowers for Algernon" by Daniel Keyes

Random Word

Spin the wheel and learn a new word!

---

Related Words

• disclosure

---