scrutiny

American  

[skroot-n-ee] / ˈskrut n i /

noun

• scrutinies
  plural

1. a searching examination or investigation; minute inquiry.

2. surveillance; close and continuous watching or guarding.

3. a close and searching look.

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scrutiny British  

/ ˈskruːtɪnɪ /

noun

1. close or minute examination

2. a searching look

3. 1. (in the early Christian Church) a formal testing that catechumens had to undergo before being baptized

   2. a similar examination of candidates for holy orders

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Synonym Usage

See examination.

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• nonscrutiny
  noun
• rescrutiny
  noun
• self-scrutiny
  noun

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• scrutinies
  plural

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”

Explanation

Scrutiny is when you look at something really closely, like when you are checking a test for mistakes. Scrutiny can also be an intense look, like when your mother looks at you — trying to tell if you might be lying. Scrutiny comes from the Latin scrutari, which means “to search,” but which originally meant, “to sort trash.” When you turn in a draft of your essay, you are subjecting it to your teacher's scrutiny — and there's a good chance that she'll find some sentences that can be "trashed" as well as sections that could be improved.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

scrutiny scrutinies

Presidents rightly expect more security than the rest of us, but that typically comes with greater scrutiny of their locations and activities too.

From Slate ● Aug. 11, 2026

In recent years, Yabloko's members have come under increasing scrutiny for their opposition to the fighting.

From Barron's ● Aug. 10, 2026

The "past" Flick may have been referring to includes a number of high-profile moments in which Araujo's mistakes came under intense scrutiny.

From BBC ● Aug. 10, 2026

While the higher reserve standard takes effect early next year, Fannie and Freddie increased scrutiny on condo sales starting last week by ending fast-track mortgage approval for condo buyers.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 9, 2026

If Monty was uncharacteristically gruff, it was because the team found itself facing unprecedented scrutiny.

From "City Spies" by James Ponti

Tellingly, Maritain notes what too many U.S. literary critics have ignored: that "American literature, in its most objective scrutinies, has been preoccupied with the beyond and the nameless which haunt our blood."

From Time Magazine Archive

In the late 1920s, his close analysis of a Shakespeare sonnet impressed Critic William Empson and led, indirectly, to the textual scrutinies of the New Criticism of the 1940s and '50s.

From Time Magazine Archive

Since his arrival in London, Johnnie had been used to scrutinies.

From House of Torment A Tale of the Remarkable Adventures of Mr. John Commendone, Gentleman to King Phillip II of Spain at the English Court by Cyril Arthur Edward Ranger Gull

We didn't use to have any scrutinies at Loughton, did we?

From Phineas Redux by Anthony Trollope

Thrice every year are held scrutinies into life and conduct, at which the hateful practice of secret denunciation is admitted, and the accused is forbidden to call for the name of his accuser.

From Oxford and Her Colleges by Goldwin Smith

Related Words

• analysis
• audit
• inquiry
• inspection
• investigation
• review
• search
• surveillance