scrutiny
Americannoun
plural
scrutinies-
a searching examination or investigation; minute inquiry.
-
surveillance; close and continuous watching or guarding.
-
a close and searching look.
noun
-
close or minute examination
-
a searching look
-
-
(in the early Christian Church) a formal testing that catechumens had to undergo before being baptized
-
a similar examination of candidates for holy orders
-
Related Words
See examination.
Other Word Forms
- nonscrutiny noun
- rescrutiny noun
- self-scrutiny noun
Etymology
Origin of scrutiny
First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English, from Latin scrūtinium “a search, inquiry, investigation,” derivative of scrūtārī “to search thoroughly”
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 relentless pace and scrutiny of a by-election with hustings, media appearances and hours of door-knocking is unlike any other political campaign.
From BBC
The developments mark a rare public rebuke of federal immigration law enforcement and add to broader scrutiny over ICE’s use of force and transparency.
From Salon
With no suspects in custody as of Saturday, scrutiny is growing over how authorities have handled the case.
From Los Angeles Times
Amazon's smart doorbell company is dropping a partnership with a firm known for its surveillance services, after facing scrutiny over its privacy practices.
From BBC
Those requests have to go through state utility authorities that also face growing scrutiny over their decisions.
From MarketWatch
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.
