Sniffer: meaning, definitions and examples

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sniffer

 

[ หˆsnษชfษ™r ]

Noun
Context #1 | Noun

security

A device or program used to detect unauthorized access to a network or computer system.

Synonyms

network analyzer, network monitor, packet sniffer

Examples of usage

  • The company installed a sniffer to monitor network traffic.
  • The sniffer detected a potential security breach.
Context #2 | Noun

informal

A person who detects or identifies something, especially a person who identifies fraudulent activities.

Synonyms

detective, investigator, spotter

Examples of usage

  • He is known as the office sniffer for always uncovering office gossip.
  • The sniffer quickly identified the counterfeit bills.
Context #3 | Noun

slang

A dog trained to detect certain odors, especially in police work or search and rescue missions.

Synonyms

K9 unit, detection dog, scent dog

Examples of usage

  • The sniffer dog helped the police find the missing person.
  • The airport employs sniffer dogs to detect drugs and explosives.

Translations

Translations of the word "sniffer" in other languages:

๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡น farejador

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ณ เคธเฅ‚เค‚เค˜เคจเฅ‡ เคตเคพเคฒเคพ

๐Ÿ‡ฉ๐Ÿ‡ช Schnรผffler

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ฉ pengendus

๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ฆ ะฝัŽั…ะฐั‡

๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡ฑ wฤ™szyciel

๐Ÿ‡ฏ๐Ÿ‡ต ใ‚นใƒ‹ใƒ•ใ‚กใƒผ

๐Ÿ‡ซ๐Ÿ‡ท renifleur

๐Ÿ‡ช๐Ÿ‡ธ olfateador

๐Ÿ‡น๐Ÿ‡ท koklayฤฑcฤฑ

๐Ÿ‡ฐ๐Ÿ‡ท ํ›„๊ฐ ํƒ์ง€๊ธฐ

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฆ ู…ุณุชู†ุดู‚

๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ฟ ฤichaฤ

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฐ ฤuchaฤ

๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ณ ๅ—…ๆŽขๅ™จ

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฎ vohljaฤ

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ธ รพefari

๐Ÿ‡ฐ๐Ÿ‡ฟ ะธั–ัะบะตะณั–ัˆ

๐Ÿ‡ฌ๐Ÿ‡ช แƒ›แƒงแƒœแƒแƒกแƒแƒ•แƒ˜

๐Ÿ‡ฆ๐Ÿ‡ฟ iylษ™yici

๐Ÿ‡ฒ๐Ÿ‡ฝ olfateador

Etymology

The word 'sniffer' originated from the verb 'sniff', which dates back to the late 14th century. The sense of 'sniffer' as a device for detecting unauthorized access to a network or computer system emerged in the 1980s with the rise of computer technology. The informal usage of 'sniffer' to refer to a person who identifies something, especially fraud, has been around since the early 20th century. The slang meaning of 'sniffer' as a dog trained to detect odors in police work or search and rescue missions became popular in the 1960s.

See also: sniff, sniffle.

Word Frequency Rank

Ranking #35,919, this word is encountered relatively rarely in everyday English. It might appear in literary works or specialized texts but isn't essential for general communication.