lie detector

noun

1. 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.

lie detector

noun

1. See polygraph, galvanic skin response
   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, etc See polygraph galvanic skin response

Word History and Origins

Origin of lie detector¹

An Americanism dating back to 1905–10

Example Sentences

He then convinced Ray to grant a Playboy interview, as part of which he would take a lie detector test.

From The Daily Beast

For a global partnership between the top social media platforms and brands to create brand safety measurement standards to move ahead, the side holding the purse strings wants a lie detector test.

From Digiday

Police relied on lie detector tests to guide the investigation, and after both men passed, they were released.

From ProPublica

The Enquirer story was written by Robin Mizrahi, who interviewed Ferrier and had arranged for her to take a lie detector test.

From The Daily Beast

She agreed to meet with tabloid editors in New York City and take a lie detector test to back up her claims.

From The Daily Beast

If you recall, Chase took a lie detector test and he passed.

From The Daily Beast

He bent the truth throughout his life to ensure that he was known as the man who had invented the lie detector test.

From The Daily Beast

She acts as a sort of lie detector, but proceeds through elegant narrative rather than binary test.

From The Daily Beast

Taking advantage of the situation, I latched my motorized lie detector onto him and began snapping the questions.

From Project Gutenberg

But I have seen individuals who have failed the lie detector test and who were just as innocent as they could be.

From Project Gutenberg

He was asked whether he would take a lie detector test, and he did.

From Project Gutenberg

I would never want to convict or to send to the penitentiary any person solely on the evidence of the lie detector.

From Project Gutenberg

Now Mr. Warren, I don't know if you got any confidence in the lie detector test and the truth serum, and so on.

From Project Gutenberg