sensor

American  

[sen-sawr, -ser] / ˈsɛn sɔr, -sər /

noun

1. a mechanical device sensitive to light, temperature, radiation level, or the like, that transmits a signal to a measuring or control instrument.

2. a sense organ.

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sensor British  

/ ˈsɛnsə /

noun

1. anything, such as a photoelectric cell, that receives a signal or stimulus and responds to it

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Etymology

Origin of sensor

First recorded in 1925–30; sense + -or ²

Explanation

An electronic device that measures changes in a physical quality (like light or temperature) is a sensor. Your kitchen smoke alarm has a sensor that detects the smoky evidence of your badly burned toast. Sensors, these tiny gadgets that detect a physical property, note any changes in it, and convey a message about it electronically, are found just about everywhere. They detect the presence of carbon monoxide in your house, tell you what the temperature is, and help drivers back up safely, alerting them of any obstacles. Smartphones themselves contain many sensors — detecting vibration, tilt, magnetic fields, and more. Sensor comes from a Latin root meaning "perceive or feel."

Example Sentences

In March there were 5 million, according to Sensor Tower.

From Barron's • Mar. 25, 2026

ReelShort was downloaded 23 million times in the U.S. last year, according to market intelligence firm Sensor Tower.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 18, 2026

The week-over-week download trend was especially pronounced for apps that were not tied to specific brands, such as GasBuddy and Upside, Sensor Tower data showed.

From MarketWatch • Mar. 9, 2026

Meanwhile, there was a 31% increase in smartphone downloads of gas price-related apps, according to Sensor Tower, a market intelligence firm.

From MarketWatch • Mar. 9, 2026

The process took even longer than normal as Filch was triple-checking everybody with his Secrecy Sensor.

From "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince" by J.K. Rowling