thermostat

American  

[thur-muh-stat] / ˈθɜr məˌstæt /

noun

• thermostats
  plural

1. a device, including a relay actuated by thermal conduction or convection, that functions to establish and maintain a desired temperature automatically or signals a change in temperature for manual adjustment.

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verb (used with object)

thermostatted, thermostated, thermostatting, thermostating

1. to equip or control with a thermostat.

thermostat British  

/ ˈθɜːməˌstæt /

noun

1. a device that maintains a system at a constant temperature. It often consists of a bimetallic strip that bends as it expands and contracts with temperature, thus breaking and making contact with an electrical power supply

2. a similar device that actuates equipment, such as a sprinkler, when a certain temperature is reached

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thermostat Scientific  

/ thûr′mə-stăt′ /

1. A device that automatically controls heating or cooling equipment in such a way as to maintain a temperature at a constant level or within a specified range, generally using a thermometer capable of triggering electrical switches that activate or deactivate the equipment.

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thermostat Cultural  

1. A device that monitors and automatically responds to changes in temperature and activates switches controlling devices such as furnaces or air conditioners.

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• thermostatic
  adjective
• thermostatically
  adverb

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• thermostats
  plural

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Etymology

Origin of thermostat

First recorded in 1825–35; thermo- + -stat

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Explanation

If your house is always too cold in the winter, you might need to adjust the thermostat, or the dial that controls the indoor temperature. Most devices that emit heat have a thermostat, which controls how hot or cold things get. Car engines, electric blankets, furnaces, and ovens are all equipped with thermostats so that people can change the temperature, or in the case of cars, so that the car itself can keep the engine at the ideal temperature. The noun thermostat comes from the Greek word for heat, thermos, plus statos, or "a standing."

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

thermostat thermostats thermostated

A thermostat or a motion-activated switch has no consciousness, and so merely senses rather than perceives.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 4, 2026

During the World Cup, I was able to upgrade the AC unit, added a smart thermostat and invested in landscaping, which we want to do more of.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 23, 2026

On Thursday, Chicago utility company ComEd said its power grid was under "critical strain," and urged residents to "raise your thermostat as high as is comfortably safe."

From Barron's ● Jul. 3, 2026

Deploy fans: Ceiling fans create a wind-chill effect that makes a room feel several degrees cooler, allowing you to set the thermostat higher.

From MarketWatch ● Jun. 29, 2026

A mouse had eaten through the insulation of a wire leading to the thermostat.

From "Slaughterhouse-Five" by Kurt Vonnegut

The HomeView connects to a suite of other new home products, including smart thermostats, a video doorbell and door lock, and indoor and outdoor cameras, Apple says.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 14, 2026

The companies are forming a power plant that would draw power from Sunrun and Tesla home battery systems and Renew smart thermostats.

From Barron's ● Jun. 24, 2026

Some wireless thermostats are connected to the internet and can be turned on remotely.

From BBC ● Nov. 19, 2025

Decentralized infrastructure solutions are available now, such as rooftop solar and energy storage, and distributed energy resources including heat pumps and smart thermostats.

From MarketWatch ● Nov. 5, 2025

Tools, bells, batteries, unusual circuits, burglar alarms, annunciator systems, thermostats, circuit breakers, time alarms, and other apparatus used in bell circuits are described from the standpoints of their application, construction and repair.

From Aviation Engines Design?Construction?Operation and Repair by Victor Wilfred Pag?

Soon some 450 great paintings were racked on pipeline scaffolds set up in the huge, thermostated hall where Financier Stotesbury once gave concerts for 1,000 guests.

From Time Magazine Archive

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