inspection

[in-spek-shuhn]

noun

1. the act of inspecting or viewing, especially carefully or critically.

   an inspection of all luggage on the plane.

2. formal or official viewing or examination.

   an inspection of the troops.

Other Word Forms

• inspectional adjective
• preinspection noun
• reinspection noun
• self-inspection noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of inspection¹

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English inspeccio(u)n, from Latin inspectiōn- (stem of inspectiō ). See inspect, -ion

Synonym Study

See examination.

Example Sentences

Casinos look for card marking and tampering through security footage, deck changes and table inspections.

From Los Angeles Times

One unsuccessfully sued to overturn the new California inspection law, alleging it was unnecessary and an intrusion on the federal government’s authority.

From Los Angeles Times

A site safety inspection will take place on Saturday to determine whether it can reopen.

From BBC

The restaurant said in a statement that it had always passed food safety inspections and was co-operating with the authorities.

From BBC

The EPA will pause research work, grants, permits and inspections while the government is shut down.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• analysis 
• checkup 
• inquiry 
• investigation 
• probe 
• research 
• review 
• scrutiny 
• search 
• supervision 
• surveillance 
• survey 

When To Use

What is an inspection?

An inspection is an instance of viewing, examining, or critically analyzing something with the purpose of improving it or highlighting something. Inspections are often done to identify specific problems or aspects of something. For example, you might perform an inspection of your body after walking in the woods to see if any ticks have attached themselves to you.An inspection can also be a formal examination of something or someone to see if they meet specific requirements. A vehicle inspection, for example, is performed by a trained professional who reviews your vehicle against a list of safety checks to ensure your car is safe to drive.Example: My whole fleet of trucks will be up for a safety inspection in a few months.