# detector

> English word · Noun · IPA /dɪˈtɛktə(ɹ)/ · frequency rank #11,017

## Definitions
1. A device capable of registering a specific substance or physical phenomenon, and that optionally sounds an alarm or triggers a warning.
2. A device capable of registering a specific substance or physical phenomenon, and that optionally sounds an alarm or triggers a warning.
3. A device capable of registering a specific substance or physical phenomenon, and that optionally sounds an alarm or triggers a warning.

## Etymology
Borrowed from Latin dētēctor. Equals detect + -or (agent noun forming suffix).

## Easily confused with
- **director** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/detector-vs-director)
- **detect** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/detect-vs-detector)
- **detected** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/detected-vs-detector)
- **defector** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/defector-vs-detector)
- **detection** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/detection-vs-detector)

## Common misspellings (12)
`ddetector`, `deetctor`, `detcetor`, `detecctor`, `detecotr`, `detectorr`, `detectro`, `detecttor`, `detetcor`, `dettector`, `dteector`, `edtector`

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