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
Alex Taylor IIIHe chuckled about the radar detector in his big station wagon … saying he never drove faster than 60 anyway.—Stephan Wilkinson
Stephan Wilkinson2
: 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
Robin BaumgarnExamples of radar detector in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
During the Cold War, the U.S. operated a radar detector in Greenland.
—Rivka Galchen, New Yorker, 2 Sep. 2025
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
In other words, use a radar detector because everyone around them is still driving 85.
—Scott Dochterman, The Athletic, 22 Aug. 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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Rivka Galchen, New Yorker, 2 Sep. 2025
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
In other words, use a radar detector because everyone around them is still driving 85.
—Scott Dochterman, The Athletic, 22 Aug. 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
Cite this Entry
“Radar detector.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/radar%20detector. Accessed 31 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share