inspection
Americannoun
-
the act of inspecting or viewing, especially carefully or critically.
an inspection of all luggage on the plane.
-
formal or official viewing or examination.
an inspection of the troops.
Usage
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.
Related Words
See examination.
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of inspection
First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English inspeccio(u)n, from Latin inspectiōn- (stem of inspectiō ). See inspect, -ion
Explanation
Every year, your car must get an inspection by an authorized mechanic who verifies that it is not a hazard on the road or harmful to the environment. An inspection is an official examination. Inspection can also mean "a close look at." If you discover a bug in your back yard, it might require a careful inspection to figure out what kind of insect it is. An idea might sound good, but on closer inspection, you find that it won't work. Think of inspection as someone looking closely at something to determine a set of facts.
Vocabulary lists containing inspection
Vocabulary from history writings about the Triangle Factory Fire
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"The Moustache" and "Who We Really Are"
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"Flesh & Blood So Cheap: The Triangle Fire and Its Legacy" by Albert Marrin
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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.
Postal Inspection Service and/or your state attorney general.
From MarketWatch • Apr. 27, 2026
The incident took place while the jets were on a flight mission in the central city of Daegu, according to Seoul's Board of Audit and Inspection.
From BBC • Apr. 22, 2026
“Corruption is a major obstacle and a stumbling block in the advancement of the party and the nation’s causes,” Xi said this week at a conclave of the party’s Central Commission for Discipline Inspection.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 17, 2026
Taichung authorities were tracing the whereabouts of 28 pigs from the farm that were sold in markets, Lin Nien-nung, from the ministry's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Agency, said Thursday.
From Barron's • Oct. 23, 2025
I stopped by the Inspection Office on my way down the corridor, and I being the guard none stopped me from entering and looking till I found the wall-panel that contained the alarms and switches.
From "The Left Hand of Darkness" by Ursula K. Le Guin
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.
