near-infrared

adjective

near-in·​fra·​red ˌnir-ˌin-frə-ˈred How to pronounce near-infrared (audio)
-(ˌ)frä-
: of or relating to the shorter wavelengths of radiation in the infrared spectrum and especially to those between 0.7 and 2.5 micrometers

Examples of near-infrared in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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This 10-minute spot treatment combines blue (415nm), red (633nm), and near-infrared (830nm) light to kill acne-causing bacteria and reduce inflammation. Christa Joanna Lee, Allure, 13 Oct. 2025 In a 2005 report, for example, researchers showed that exposure to near-infrared radiation led to visible wrinkle formation in hairless mice. Leslie Baumann, Miami Herald, 9 Oct. 2025 The James Webb Space Telescope then observed the interstellar object Aug. 6 in near-infrared light, followed by the newer SPHEREx telescope from Aug. 7-Aug. 15, to get a better idea of its physical properties and chemical makeup. Eric Lagatta, USA Today, 8 Oct. 2025 Between the first 10 hours and three days after birth, the team observed how the newborns’ brains reacted to German, Hebrew and French by using functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS), a noninvasive imaging technique that measures changes in blood oxygenation in the brain. Meghie Rodrigues, Scientific American, 7 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for near-infrared

Word History

First Known Use

1950, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of near-infrared was in 1950

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Cite this Entry

“Near-infrared.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/near-infrared. Accessed 29 Oct. 2025.

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