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Showing results for sniffer. Search instead for sniffers.
Synonyms

sniffer

American  
[snif-er] / ˈsnɪf ər /

noun

  1. a person or thing that sniffs.

  2. a device or mechanism for detecting something.


sniffer British  
/ ˈsnɪfə /

noun

  1. a device for detecting hidden substances such as drugs or explosives, esp by their odour

  2. a computer program or device used to monitor, detect, and capture data on a network

"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

Etymology

Origin of sniffer

First recorded in 1860–65; sniff + -er 1


Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

Search teams with sniffer dogs continued to look for victims on Thursday, a day after the collision in central Spain.

From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 2, 2026

Trudeau’s government hired a film crew to capture two Black Hawk helicopters and a sniffer dog on patrol.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 8, 2026

As the sun was about to set, 25 Mexican soldiers with sniffer dogs showed up, one of many foreign crews rushing in to help Venezuela cope.

From Barron's ● Jun. 28, 2026

A Royal Air Force plane carrying 68 personnel and equipment including sniffer dogs and drones took off from Brize Norton airbase on Friday evening to join an international rescue operation.

From BBC ● Jun. 26, 2026

Truant officers and their sniffer dogs'd be put on my trail.

From "Black Swan Green" by David Mitchell

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