Dictionary.com
Thesaurus.com
Jump To:
  • body-search
    body-search
    verb (used with object)
    to search all parts of the body of.
  • body search
    body search
    noun
    a form of search by police, customs officials, etc, that involves examination of a prisoner's or suspect's bodily orifices

body-search

American  
[bod-ee-surch] / ˈbɒd iˌsɜrtʃ /

verb (used with object)

  1. to search all parts of the body of.

    Police ordered the suspects to strip and then body-searched them for hidden caches of narcotics.


body search British  

noun

  1. a form of search by police, customs officials, etc, that involves examination of a prisoner's or suspect's bodily orifices

"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

verb

  1. (tr) to search (a prisoner or suspect) in this manner

"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

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.

See Examples For:

A Justice Department lawyer argued Monday that a new body-search policy for prisoners at Guantanamo Bay did not restrict inmates’ access to lawyers.

From Washington Post Dec. 13, 2013

Sally Bolton, chief executive of the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club, told journalists there is "100% bag search" and "selective body search" at all gates.

From BBC Jul. 4, 2023

The prosecution and defense also agreed Strong then decided to arrest Ward-Blake for disorderly conduct and walk him to the side of his cruiser, where he conducted a body search.

From Washington Post May 4, 2022

More than 30 people participated in the latest search, including members of the FBI body search team.

From Washington Times Oct. 1, 2018

A number of Afghans regard a body search as an insult signifying a lack of trust.

From New York Times Dec. 7, 2012

We passed through several road­blocks to get there and three different security officials conducted a body search on me after the wires in my jaws set off the metal detectors.

From "The Kite Runner" by Khaled Hosseini

Vocabulary.com logo
by dictionary.com

Dictionary.com's Learning Companion

Go beyond just looking up words.
Remember them forever with VocabTrainer.

Start training