observation

American  

[ob-zur-vey-shuhn] / ˌɒb zɜrˈveɪ ʃən /

noun

1. an act or instance of noticing or perceiving.

2. an act or instance of regarding attentively or watching.

3. the faculty or habit of observing or noticing.

   Synonyms:

   attention

4. notice.

   to escape a person's observation.

5. an act or instance of viewing or noting a fact or occurrence for some scientific or other special purpose.

   the observation of blood pressure under stress.

6. the information or record secured by such an act.

7. something that is learned in the course of observing things.

   My observation is that such clouds mean a storm.

8. a remark, comment, or statement based on what one has noticed or observed.

   Synonyms:

   opinion, pronouncement

9. the condition of being observed.

10. Navigation.

    1. the measurement of the altitude or azimuth of a heavenly body for navigational purposes.

    2. the information obtained by such a measurement.

11. Obsolete. observance, as of the law.

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observation British  

/ ˌɒbzəˈveɪʃən /

noun

1. the act of observing or the state of being observed

2. a comment or remark

3. detailed examination of phenomena prior to analysis, diagnosis, or interpretation

   the patient was under observation

4. the facts learned from observing

5. an obsolete word for observance

6. nautical

   1. a sight taken with an instrument to determine the position of an observer relative to that of a given heavenly body

   2. the data so taken

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Related Words

See remark.

Other Word Forms

• nonobservation noun
• observational adjective
• observationally adverb
• preobservation noun
• reobservation noun
• self-observation noun

Etymology

Origin of observation

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English, from Latin observātiōn-, stem of observātiō “attention, inspection, surveillance,” from observāt(us) “watched” (past participle of observāre “to watch, regard, attend to”; observe ) + -iō -ion

Example Sentences

"Our observations have allowed for a unique and nuanced view of the comet."

From Science Daily

Worries about the commercialization of the holiday have been voiced many times, many ways, but Mr. Friedlander probes deeper cultural trends with his observations.

From The Wall Street Journal

It is an observation that as time progresses and the moving average rises, a test sometime in 2026 becomes increasingly plausible.

From Barron's

These aren’t your warm and fuzzy bubbes; these are women of the world, and their observations of one another and society can be caustic.

From The Wall Street Journal

Yet Edward’s recollection is vague and doesn’t jibe with the observations of his doctor and the local constable.

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• conclusion
• consideration
• examination
• experience
• information
• inspection
• investigation
• knowledge
• measurement
• note
• perception
• remark
• research
• review
• study
• surveillance
• view