Synonyms

quality control

American

noun

a system for verifying and maintaining a desired level of quality in an existing product or service by careful planning, use of proper equipment, continued inspection, and corrective action as required.

quality control British

noun

control of the relative quality of a manufactured product, usually by statistical sampling techniques

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of quality control

First recorded in 1930–35

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.

“What I did for Boeing applies to what I do here. Quality control in food,” he told the Seattle Times in 1999.

From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 24, 2025

Quality control takes place at a laboratory in Paignton.

From BBC • Jan. 22, 2024

Quality control coach Ryan Flaherty took over as bench coach.

From Seattle Times • May 13, 2022

Quality control issues like the ones found at Mylan are a leading cause of drug shortages, both at American plants and overseas.

From New York Times • Sep. 18, 2021

“You are to be commended for this increase. However we continue to receive complaints of defective wiring. Quality control must improve.”

From "The Hiding Place" by Corrie ten Boom

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023