scrutiny
Americannoun
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a searching examination or investigation; minute inquiry.
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surveillance; close and continuous watching or guarding.
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a close and searching look.
noun
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close or minute examination
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a searching look
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(in the early Christian Church) a formal testing that catechumens had to undergo before being baptized
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a similar examination of candidates for holy orders
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Synonym Usage
See examination.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
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”
Explanation
Scrutiny is when you look at something really closely, like when you are checking a test for mistakes. Scrutiny can also be an intense look, like when your mother looks at you — trying to tell if you might be lying. Scrutiny comes from the Latin scrutari, which means “to search,” but which originally meant, “to sort trash.” When you turn in a draft of your essay, you are subjecting it to your teacher's scrutiny — and there's a good chance that she'll find some sentences that can be "trashed" as well as sections that could be improved.
Vocabulary lists containing scrutiny
"The Gift of the Magi" by O. Henry
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"To Kill a Mockingbird" by Harper Lee, Chapters 16–19
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The Westing Game
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The party establishment sees a different lesson: that opposition research, debate scrutiny and general-election campaigning exist for a reason.
From Barron's • Jul. 9, 2026
With Labour, the Conservatives, the Liberal Democrats and the Green Party all declining to take part, journalistic duty and curiosity led to a spot of scrutiny about a novelty candidate who says he will.
From BBC • Jul. 8, 2026
Companies like Apple are designated a so-called "gatekeeper" under the DMA, and their apps are subject to extra scrutiny as "core platform services".
From Barron's • Jul. 8, 2026
The scrutiny over Farage’s donations began in late April, when the British press reported the undisclosed donation from Harborne.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jul. 7, 2026
He gulped as the beam illuminated something shiny and black in the water, but upon closer scrutiny he saw that it wasn’t an alligator.
From "Hoot" by Carl Hiaasen
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
