What does "thermostat" mean?
A device that automatically responds to changes in temperature by activating a heating or cooling system to maintain the temperature at a desired setting.
Thermostat
/ˈθɝməstæt/ noun
noun ·Uncommon ·Advanced level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: A device that automatically responds to changes in temperature by activating a heating or cooling system to maintain the temperature at a desired setting.
- Grammar: thermostat is listed as noun.
- Nearest alternatives: control device, controls temperature, detector, direction finder.
- Useful contrasts: unregulated operation, unregulated temperature.
- Usage evidence: There was a problem with the thermostat.
How to use "thermostat"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "thermostat" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "thermostat" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "thermostat" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "thermostat" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "thermostat" is acting as noun in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "control device" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.
Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "thermostat", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 A device that automatically responds to changes in temperature by activating a heating or cooling system to maintain the temperature at a desired setting.
"A smart thermostat can give you remote control over your heating and air conditioning, making sure your home is as cool or toasty as you like when you get home from work or wherever else, and a great one can monitor environmental conditions and your own preferences over time, adjust your systems to keep you comfortable and save you money. That’s why we spent several months testing eight smart thermostats to find the best one for your place."
- 2 a regulator for automatically regulating temperature by starting or stopping the supply of heat wordnet
- 3 An algorithm used to maintain a simulated system at a set temperature by absorbing or releasing heat
Verb
- 1 control the temperature with a thermostat wordnet
Synonyms
All synonymsAntonyms
unregulated operationunregulated temperature
Example
"There was a problem with the thermostat."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "thermostat"?
Common synonyms include: control device, controls temperature, detector, direction finder, glass, instrument.
How do you use "thermostat" in a sentence?
There was a problem with the thermostat.
How do you pronounce "thermostat"?
Pronounced /ˈθɝməstæt/.
Etymology
From thermo- + -stat.