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radar

Etymology and origin of the English word radar

History Permalink
Confidence
Established
Formation
Acronym
First attested
1941

Pronunciation

  • IPA: /ˈɹeɪdɑː/ (UK); /ˈɹeɪˌdɑɹ/ (US)[1]

Etymology

It is an acronym from ra(dio) d(etecting) a(nd) r(anging), coined in American English.[2][3][4] NODE gives “radio detection and ranging”.[5]

Earliest recorded meaning

A system for detecting distant objects by reflected radio waves: 1941.[2][6][3][4]

Semantic evolution

It was the American choice and won out over British radiolocation.[3] The apparatus itself is called radar from 1945.[6] A figurative intuitive awareness, as in on one's radar, is from 1950.[6][3] Compounds such as radar dish and radar astronomy followed.[6]

Timeline

  • 1941 – the system.[2][6]
  • 1945 – the apparatus.[6]
  • 1950 – figurative awareness.[6][3]

Modern meaning

Noun

  1. A system for detecting the position and speed of distant objects by sending out radio waves and receiving their reflections.
  2. The equipment used for this.
  3. (informal) Awareness or notice: under the radar.

Word family

  • antiradar
  • radarman
  • radarscope

References

  1. ^ Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c Barnhart, Robert K. (1988), The Barnhart Dictionary of Etymology
  3. ^ a b c d e Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
  4. ^ a b Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary (2024), online ed., Springfield, Mass.: Merriam-Webster
  5. ^ Pearsall, Judy, ed. (1998), The New Oxford Dictionary of English, Oxford: Clarendon Press
  6. ^ a b c d e f g Simpson, J. A.; Weiner, E. S. C., eds. (1989), The Oxford English Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Clarendon Press
Cite this entry

“Radar.” Etymologically, 16 Oct. 2026, etymologically.com/en/radar. Accessed 16 Oct. 2026.

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