examination

[ ig-zam-uh-ney-shuhn ]
See synonyms for examination on Thesaurus.com
noun
  1. the act of examining; inspection; inquiry; investigation.

  2. the state of being examined.

  1. the act or process of testing pupils, candidates, etc., as by questions.

  2. the test itself; the list of questions asked.

  3. the answers, statements, etc., made by one examined.

  4. Law. formal interrogation.

Origin of examination

1
First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English examinacioun, from Middle French, Old French examinacion, examination, “interrogation,” from Latin exāminātiōn- (stem of exāminātiō ). See examine, -ation

synonym study For examination

1. Examination, inspection, scrutiny refer to a looking at something. An examination usually means a careful noting of details: A thorough examination of the plumbing revealed a defective pipe. An inspection is a formal and official examination: an inspection of records, a military inspection. Scrutiny implies a critical and minutely detailed examination: The papers seemed to be in good order, but they would not stand close scrutiny. See also investigation.

Other words for examination

Other words from examination

  • ex·am·i·na·tion·al, adjective
  • pre·ex·am·i·na·tion, noun

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use examination in a sentence

  • Decomposition sets in rapidly, especially in warm weather, and greatly interferes with all the examinations.

    A Manual of Clinical Diagnosis | James Campbell Todd
  • Marked variation in the amount at successive examinations strongly suggests a neurosis.

    A Manual of Clinical Diagnosis | James Campbell Todd
  • Even when repeated examinations are made, the laboratory findings must never be considered apart from the clinical signs.

    A Manual of Clinical Diagnosis | James Campbell Todd
  • Successive examinations may show normal, increased, or diminished hydrochloric acid, or even entire absence of the free acid.

    A Manual of Clinical Diagnosis | James Campbell Todd
  • Much of value can, however, be learned from other simple examinations, particularly a careful inspection.

    A Manual of Clinical Diagnosis | James Campbell Todd

British Dictionary definitions for examination

examination

/ (ɪɡˌzæmɪˈneɪʃən) /


noun
  1. the act of examining or state of being examined

  2. education

    • written exercises, oral questions, or practical tasks, set to test a candidate's knowledge and skill

    • (as modifier): an examination paper

  1. med

    • physical inspection of a patient or parts of his body, in order to verify health or diagnose disease

    • laboratory study of secretory or excretory products, tissue samples, etc, esp in order to diagnose disease

  2. law the formal interrogation of a person on oath, esp of an accused or a witness

Derived forms of examination

  • examinational, adjective

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