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

An independent investigation found that the AI swarm found a way to secretly communicate and coordinated the unauthorized hack, editing and deleting its activity logs to avoid detection.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 17, 2026

The report states that there was no functioning smoke detection, fire alarms or sprinkler system.

From BBC ● Sep. 16, 2026

In the longer term, rapid AI analysis of online patient conversations could potentially become an early detection system for emerging health concerns involving drugs, supplements and wellness products.

From Science Daily ● Sep. 13, 2026

AI models are increasingly used in weather and climate forecasting and for early detection of natural hazards.

From Barron's ● Sep. 11, 2026

James Fisk, who supervised the American side of the talks with a diplomatic skill unexpected of a scientific appointee, brought home an agreement designating the detection of nuclear bomb tests as “technically feasible.”

From "Big Science" by Michael Hiltzik

By connecting X-ray detections with detailed optical measurements, researchers can better determine what these energetic objects are and where they are located in the Universe.

From Science Daily ● Aug. 14, 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

The distant detections of Phobos and Deimos served as a rehearsal for the mission's future search for small moons around asteroid Psyche.

From Science Daily ● Jul. 28, 2026

Marine mammals have also been affected, with some detections in other animals such as cats, goats, alpacas and pigs.

From Barron's ● Jun. 24, 2026

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

From "Flowers for Algernon" by Daniel Keyes

Related Words

• disclosure