physical examination

American  

noun

1. an examination, usually by a physician, of a person's body in order to determine the person's state of health or physical fitness, such as for military service or participation in a sport.

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physical examination British  

noun

1. med the process of examining the body by means of sight, touch, percussion, or auscultation to diagnose disease or verify fitness

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Etymology

Origin of physical examination

First recorded in 1880–85

Example Sentences

Marsh, who still mourns her son Archie, said official physical documentation is "massively part of the grieving process", making loss more real and helping you to acknowledge and accept.

From BBC • Oct. 9, 2024

“The most incredible thing is that it’s not just the physical documentation of the founding days of neurosurgery but a social document,” Dr. Wahl said.

From New York Times • Aug. 23, 2010

As archivists save the country’s physical documentation, folklorists like Joseph Abuk chase an invisible heritage.

From National Geographic