noun
-
a person who inspects, esp an official who examines for compliance with regulations, standards, etc
-
a police officer ranking below a superintendent or chief inspector and above a sergeant
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
-
inspectorshipnoun
-
preinspectornoun
-
subinspectornoun
-
subinspectorshipnoun
-
inspectoraladjective
-
inspectorialadjective
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Etymology
Origin of inspector
1595–1605; < Latin, equivalent to inspec-, variant stem of inspicere ( see inspect) + -tor -tor
Explanation
An inspector is someone who looks into, observes, and examines things — it's also a word for a detective. The government employs many inspectors — an inspector has to check out the kitchen of a restaurant to see if they're following the rules for cleanliness. Hospitals need to let inspectors check things out, to make sure conditions are safe. Many types of business have inspectors — especially if there's a health concern. An inspector observes things carefully — an inspector checks things out.
Vocabulary lists containing inspector
"The Fun They Had"
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
"Principles of Business," Vocabulary from Chapter 3
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
Florida's B.E.S.T. Roots: spec
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
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 former Justice Department inspector general argued that “an inspector general would be good for the U.S. Supreme Court and it would help improve trust in the court.”
From Slate ● Jul. 15, 2026
In the case of the former Pfizer building, Domani inspector John McMonagle is listed on permits as being responsible for the inspection of structural steel and the structural stability of alterations to existing buildings.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 10, 2026
Ofsted's chief inspector said he has increased the size of the team investigating the use of illegal placements and three prosecutions are ongoing, with one awaiting sentencing.
From BBC ● Jul. 8, 2026
Led by Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., the joint letter echoed concerns raised by a recent Defense Department inspector general report that described civilian protection efforts as largely “inactive.”
From Salon ● Jul. 7, 2026
I pleaded, “he’s not a building inspector, and his name is not Smit.”
From "The Hiding Place" by Corrie ten Boom
During the second inspection, inspectors found decaying organic waste, wastewater, food residue, unsanitary conditions that allowed the breeding of flies, as well as live and dead flies along the northern perimeter of the warehouse.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 25, 2026
It isn’t clear what is inside the mountain, as international nuclear inspectors haven’t been allowed into the site.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 22, 2026
City inspectors posted stop-work orders at several campuses.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 19, 2026
It also hinges on the interviewers, inspectors and epidemiologists willing to track down customers and trace ingredients back through their production and distribution networks.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 18, 2026
Leon and Marshall were leaning over a map they were drawing of the grounds for the inspectors benefit.
From "Atonement" by Ian McEwan
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.
