scanner

American  

[skan-er] / ˈskæn ər /

noun

1. a person or thing that scans.

2. Also called optical reader.  Also called optical scanner.  Computers. a device that scans printed, handwritten, barcode, or other visual data and encodes it into digital format.

3. Photography. any device for exposing an image on film, a sensitized plate, etc., by tracing light along a series of many closely spaced parallel lines.

4. (in aerial photography) a device for estimating the ratio of aircraft speed to aircraft altitude.

5. a photoelectric device for scanning a picture to determine automatically the density of the hue or value in each area for transmission by wire or radio or for preparation of color process printing plates.

6. a computer-aided electronic system using photoelectric cells to separate copy, as color illustrations, into its primary colors, correct color copy, and produce a set of color separations ready for proofing or printing.

7. Radio. a radio receiver, used especially by police, firefighters, and the press, that continuously tunes to preselected frequencies, broadcasting any signal that it detects.

8. Medicine/Medical, Biology. a device for examining a body, organ, tissue, or other biologically active material.

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scanner British  

/ ˈskænə /

noun

1. a person or thing that scans

2. a device, usually electronic, used to measure or sample the distribution of some quantity or condition in a particular system, region, or area

3. an aerial or similar device designed to transmit or receive signals, esp radar signals, inside a given solid angle of space, thus allowing a particular region to be scanned

4. any of various devices used in medical diagnosis to obtain an image of an internal organ or part See CAT scanner nuclear magnetic resonance scanner ultrasound scanner

5. informal a television outside broadcast vehicle

6. short for optical scanner

7. printing an electronic device which scans printed material and converts it to digital form

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Etymology

Origin of scanner

First recorded in 1550–60; scan + -er ¹

Example Sentences

"If a match is found, the scanner will be given clear instructions on how to alert KitKat who will then share the evidence appropriately," it said.

From Barron's • Mar. 28, 2026

As I boarded, I placed both my tickets in front of the scanner without worrying about what everyone behind me would think.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 3, 2026

At 9:04 a.m., a Minneapolis fire department rescue unit was dispatched to 26th Street and Nicollet Avenue for a “possible ICE-involved” shooting, according to fire department scanner traffic.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 25, 2026

The Plus plan adds a tracker blocker, ad blocker, anti-malware protection and a data breach scanner for around $4 per month.

From Salon • Dec. 12, 2025

Because they were going into the Research and Development section, security was intense and included photographs, retinal imaging, and a full-body scanner.

From "City Spies" by James Ponti