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 ) ( 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

Designating the addresses of these so-called company secretaries makes it harder for smugglers to create new shell companies and evade detection, the Commerce Department says.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 11, 2026

"Our method detected 90% of cancer cases, a result very close to the 94% detection rate achieved by colonoscopies and better than all current non-invasive detection methods."

From Science Daily • Apr. 9, 2026

But people who skip paying taxes shouldn’t count on an understaffed IRS to help them avoid detection.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 6, 2026

While the first prototype was relatively basic, its future models also pioneered wearable health tech with features like ECG monitoring and fall detection, making it a key driver of health and fitness technology.

From BBC • Apr. 4, 2026

He failed because his detection apparatus was not capable of sensing neutrons and positrons—that was an understandable oversight, for neither particle yet had been discovered.

From "Big Science" by Michael Hiltzik

Related Words

• disclosure