radar detector

noun

plural radar detectors
1
: a device designed to alert the operator of a vehicle when it has been targeted by a radar beam (as from a police officer's radar gun)
After fastening a radar detector to the windshield, he slaloms through traffic at illegal speeds for the seven-mile trip to Chrysler's Styling Dome …Alex Taylor III
He chuckled about the radar detector in his big station wagon … saying he never drove faster than 60 anyway.Stephan Wilkinson
2
: radar gun
The officer's radar detector recorded the vehicle speed between 55 and 60 mph, with the speed reaching 70 mph at one point on the 55 mph-limit roadway.Robin Baumgarn

Examples of radar detector in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Cincinnati philanthropist and radar detector pioneer Michael Valentine died unexpectedly Monday at his home, according to his obituary. Cameron Knight, The Enquirer, 20 Sep. 2024 Aftermarket parts like an Alpine stereo linked with amplifiers and a subwoofer live in the trunk, and a Viper radar detector has been added to ward off any unwanted attention. Jack Fitzgerald, Car and Driver, 26 Apr. 2023 Now, not every alert your radar detector displays is a cop. Collin Morgan, Car and Driver, 30 Nov. 2022

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'radar detector.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1960, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of radar detector was in 1960

Dictionary Entries Near radar detector

Cite this Entry

“Radar detector.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/radar%20detector. Accessed 5 Nov. 2024.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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