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
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.
The team created versions that glow blue, green, orange, red, and even near-infrared. — William A. Haseltine, Forbes.com, 5 June 2026 For one thing, near-infrared light can pass through thin clouds, so an obscured sky wouldn't prevent communication. — Keith Cooper, Space.com, 15 June 2026 The instrument includes twin cameras that capture both visible and near-infrared light. — Meghan Bartels, Scientific American, 14 May 2026 Breathwork, movement, nutrition, sleep education, and, in some clinics, near-infrared light or photobiomodulation (red-light therapy) round out the treatments. — Melinda Fulmer, Robb Report, 11 June 2026 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

Rhymes for near-infrared

See All Rhymes for near-infrared

Browse Nearby Words

near hand
near-infrared
nearish
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Near-infrared.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/near-infrared. Accessed 8 Jul. 2026.

Copy Citation
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of gambol

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Commonly Misspelled Words

How to Use Em Dashes (—), En Dashes (–) , and Hyphens (-)
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List

One-Word Oxymorons: Bittersweet, Spendthrift, and More

Ten Words Ending with a Silent ‘T’

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World
See More

Popular

See More

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
hangman letters and game
Hangman Lightning Round Figure out which word fits in the blanks.
See All