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
- inspectoral adjective
- inspectorial adjective
- inspectorship noun
- preinspector noun
- subinspector noun
- subinspectorship noun
Etymology
Origin of inspector
1595–1605; < Latin, equivalent to inspec-, variant stem of inspicere ( 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"
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"Principles of Business," Vocabulary from Chapter 3
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Florida's B.E.S.T. Roots: spec
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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.
The ranks of the four serving officers being investigated for gross misconduct are commander, detective chief inspector, detective sergeant and detective constable.
From BBC • Apr. 14, 2026
Speaking outside Derby Crown Court, Insp Ben Wildman, local policing inspector for the east of the city, said the explosion had a "huge impact" on the community.
From BBC • Apr. 8, 2026
In 2021, the inspector general estimated the agency was on track to have spent $93 billion over the years on the program.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 1, 2026
About 1.8 million Medicare beneficiaries receive hospice care each year, and Medicare pays about $27.5 billion annually for this care, according to the HHS inspector general.
From MarketWatch • Mar. 24, 2026
The policeman and the fire inspector visiting the scene agreed that it was nothing more than a gas explosion.
From "The Westing Game" by Ellen Raskin
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.
