range finder

American  

Or rangefinder

noun

1. any of various instruments for determining the distance from the observer to a particular object, as for sighting a gun or adjusting the focus of a camera.

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Etymology

Origin of range finder

First recorded in 1870–75

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

range finder

Today, the company’s products, including an AI-driven app and range finder, act as a virtual caddie, one that recommends the club you should use and the optimal landing area for each shot.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 10, 2026

He began designing and selling his own accessory that allowed gun owners to add lights, a range finder and lasers onto the rifle.

From Seattle Times ● May 28, 2022

Garmin has added a laser range finder to their distance-measuring device options, the Approach Z80.

From Golf Digest ● May 1, 2018

In the 11th round, he ably voiced over the replay by saying, “Mayweather coming forward, using his jab as a range finder to land a right on the side of Manny’s head.”

From New York Times ● May 3, 2015

Colonel Weldon has recently considerably modified and improved his ingenious range finder, and we illustrate herewith from Engineering the form in which it is now manufactured.

From Scientific American Supplement, No. 829, November 21, 1891 by Various