range finder

noun

1
: an instrument used in gunnery to determine the distance of a target
2
: a surveying instrument (such as a transit) for determining quickly the distances, bearings, and elevations of distant objects
3
: a usually built-in adjustable optical device for focusing a camera that automatically indicates the correct focus (as when two parts of a split image are brought together)

Examples of range finder 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 suspicious person with a range finder who because the shooter, many times he was spotted by police with suspicion. — CBS News, 13 July 2025 The Mcity test car carries lidar (a laser range finder) both for a theater-in-the-round view (provided by the rotating roof tower) and for a look-ahead focus. — IEEE Spectrum, 20 Nov. 2019 Dazzle camouflage was most effective in World War I, when most sailors were using basic periscopes and optical range finders to find their targets. — Encyclopedia Britannica, 5 May 2026 The legal filings also note that authorities observed Crooks acting erratically, using a range finder, and becoming the subject of a search in the hours leading up to the shooting. — Louis Casiano, FOXNews.com, 5 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for range finder

Word History

First Known Use

1872, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Time Traveler
The first known use of range finder was in 1872

Rhymes for range finder

See All Rhymes for range finder

Browse Nearby Words

ranged rubble
range finder
range-finding
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Range finder.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/range%20finder. Accessed 8 Jul. 2026.

Copy Citation

Kids Definition

range finder

noun
: a device used to find out the distance of an object (as a target)

More from Merriam-Webster on range finder

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about range finder

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