polygraph
A polygraph is a machine used to measure a person's physical reactions while they answer questions. It's like a truth detector.
You might have seen it on TV shows or movies - someone gets hooked up to a polygraph and then asks them a series of questions, usually about something they did in the past. The idea behind it is that if you're lying, your body will react in some way, like sweating more or having a higher heart rate, which the machine can pick up on. This way, the person asking the questions might get an idea whether the answers are true or not. It's not foolproof, and experts have questioned its accuracy over time, but it's still used by some law enforcement agencies as a tool to help figure out what really happened in certain situations.
How common is "polygraph"?
It appears most frequently in spoken dialogues and less often in other writings.
noun
A device which measures and records several physiological variables such as blood pressure, heart rate, respiration and skin conductivity while a series of questions is being asked to a subject, in an attempt to detect lies.
verb
To administer a polygraph test to.
Example: The FBI polygraphed the suspect but learned nothing because they already knew he was lying.
Real examples of "polygraph" in context
