polygraph

English

Etymology

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Noun

polygraph (plural polygraphs)

chart recorder often used with a
polygraph

1. 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.
2. (dated) An mechanical instrument for multiplying copies of a writing, resembling multiple pantographs.
3. (archaic) A collection of different works, either by one or several authors.

Synonyms

• (device recording physiological measurements): lie detector
• (dated instrument for copying): manifold writer, autopen

Thomas Jefferson's polygraph copying device

See also

• Polygraph on Wikipedia.Wikipedia
• truth serum

Translations

device to discern if a subject is lying

• Chinese:

  Mandarin: 測謊器 (cmn), 测谎器 (cmn) (cèhuǎngqì)

• Finnish: valheenpaljastin (fi)
• French: polygraphe (fr) m, détecteur de mensonges (fr) m
• German: Lügendetektor (de) m

• Hebrew: פּוֹלִיגְרָף (polygraf) m
• Japanese: ポリグラフ (ja) (porigurafu), 嘘発見器 (ja) (うそはっけんき, uso-hakkenki)
• Russian: полиграф (ru) (poligráf) m, детектор лжи (ru) (detéktor lži) m
• Spanish: polígrafo (es) m

Verb

polygraph (third-person singular simple present polygraphs, present participle polygraphing, simple past and past participle polygraphed)

1. To administer a polygraph test.

   The FBI polygraphed the suspect but learned nothing because they already knew he was lying.