Etymologically
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sensor

Etymology and origin of the English word sensor

History Permalink
Confidence
Established
Formation
Clipping
First attested
c. 1928

Pronunciation

  • IPA: UK /ˈsen.sə/, US /ˈsen.sɚ/[1]

Etymology

It is a shortening of sensory, probably on the pattern of motor,[2][3] or an agent noun of Latin form from sense.[4] Merriam-Webster and Collins derive it from Latin sēnsus (“perceived”), the past participle of sentiō (“to feel, perceive”), with -or.[5][6]

Earliest recorded meaning

A device giving a signal for detecting or measuring something: about 1928 in Merriam-Webster, 1947 in Etymonline, 1958 in Barnhart and the OED.[5][4][2][7]

Semantic evolution

An earlier adjective sensor meant sensory (1865).[2][7]

Timeline

  • 1865 – sensor, sensory (adjective).[2][7]
  • c. 1928 – a sensor.[5]
  • 1958 – a detecting device.[2][7]

Modern meaning

Noun

  1. A device, such as a photoelectric cell, that detects and responds to a signal or stimulus.
  2. A sense organ.

Word family

  • microsensor
  • photosensor

References

  1. ^ Jones, Daniel (2011), Cambridge English Pronouncing Dictionary, 18th ed., ed. Peter Roach, Jane Setter and John Esling, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press
  2. ^ a b c d e Barnhart, Robert K. (1988), The Barnhart Dictionary of Etymology
  3. ^ Pearsall, Judy, ed. (1998), The New Oxford Dictionary of English, Oxford: Clarendon Press
  4. ^ a b Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
  5. ^ a b c Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary (2024), online ed., Springfield, Mass.: Merriam-Webster
  6. ^ Collins English Dictionary (2023), Glasgow: HarperCollins
  7. ^ a b c d Simpson, J. A.; Weiner, E. S. C., eds. (1989), The Oxford English Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Clarendon Press
Cite this entry

“Sensor.” Etymologically, 17 Oct. 2026, etymologically.com/en/sensor. Accessed 17 Oct. 2026.

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