lie detector

See more synonyms for lie detector on Thesaurus.com

noun

a polygraph used to determine changes in certain body activities, as blood pressure, pulse, breathing, and perspiration, the results of which may be interpreted to indicate the truth or falsity of a person's answers under questioning.

Origin of lie detector

An Americanism dating back to 1905–10

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Related Words for lie detector

polygraph, psychogalvanometer

Examples from the Web for lie detector

Historical Examples of lie detector

He examined the indicators of the lie-detector with great care.
Lost in Translation
Larry M. Harris
The Ruler flashed a look at the technicians handling the lie-detector.
Lost in Translation
Larry M. Harris
It was obviously a form of lie-detector—and Korvin felt himself marveling again at this race.
Lost in Translation
Larry M. Harris
They needed no words; the lie-detector was telling them, perfectly obviously, that he was speaking the truth.
Lost in Translation
Larry M. Harris
Korvin's guards were standing around doing nothing of importance now that their captor was strapped down in the lie-detector.
Lost in Translation
Larry M. Harris

British Dictionary definitions for lie detector

lie detector

noun

a polygraph used esp by a police interrogator to detect false or devious answers to questions, a sudden change in one or more involuntary physiological responses being considered a manifestation of guilt, fear, etcSee polygraph (def. 1), galvanic skin response

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

lie detector in Medicine

lie detector

A polygraph used to detect possible deception during an interrogation.