scrutiny

American  

[skroot-n-ee] / ˈskrut n i /

noun

plural

scrutinies

1. a searching examination or investigation; minute inquiry.

2. surveillance; close and continuous watching or guarding.

3. a close and searching look.

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scrutiny British  

/ ˈskruːtɪnɪ /

noun

1. close or minute examination

2. a searching look

3. 1. (in the early Christian Church) a formal testing that catechumens had to undergo before being baptized

   2. a similar examination of candidates for holy orders

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Related Words

See examination.

Other Word Forms

• nonscrutiny noun
• rescrutiny noun
• self-scrutiny noun

Etymology

Origin of scrutiny

First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English, from Latin scrūtinium “a search, inquiry, investigation,” derivative of scrūtārī “to search thoroughly”

Example Sentences

First elected in 2019, he has come under scrutiny in recent months over his handling of the outbreak, the firing of the environment minister in November, and various internal party complaints.

From Barron's

And with a taste of power - it now controls more than 10 town halls in England - how is it handling the full glare of scrutiny that dominates the path to Number 10?

From BBC

In 2023, he brought back a respected veteran to run Walt Disney Imagineering and revive morale battered by layoffs and budget scrutiny.

From The Wall Street Journal

Frustrated with the scrutiny and the games he had to play for Wall Street, Musk long ago told SpaceX employees he was loath to take the company public.

From The Wall Street Journal

Now, with the industry under pressure from AI, some of those software holdings have drawn scrutiny.

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• analysis
• audit
• inquiry
• inspection
• investigation
• review
• search
• surveillance