# detection vs detector

> English confusable word pair

## The two words

### detection
*noun · IPA /dɪˈtɛk.ʃən/ · frequency rank #6,461*
The act or process of detecting, uncovering, or finding out, the discovery of something new, hidden, or disguised.

### detector
*noun · IPA /dɪˈtɛktə(ɹ)/ · frequency rank #11,017*
A device capable of registering a specific substance or physical phenomenon, and that optionally sounds an alarm or triggers a warning.

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/vs/detection-vs-detector