inspection
Americannoun
-
inspections
plural
-
the act of inspecting or viewing, especially carefully or critically.
an inspection of all luggage on the plane.
-
formal or official viewing or examination.
an inspection of the troops.
Usage
What is an inspection? An inspection is an instance of viewing, examining, or critically analyzing something with the purpose of improving it or highlighting something. Inspections are often done to identify specific problems or aspects of something. For example, you might perform an inspection of your body after walking in the woods to see if any ticks have attached themselves to you. An inspection can also be a formal examination of something or someone to see if they meet specific requirements. A vehicle inspection, for example, is performed by a trained professional who reviews your vehicle against a list of safety checks to ensure your car is safe to drive. Example: My whole fleet of trucks will be up for a safety inspection in a few months.
Synonym Usage
See examination.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Etymology
Origin of inspection
First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English inspeccio(u)n, from Latin inspectiōn- (stem of inspectiō ). See inspect, -ion
Explanation
Every year, your car must get an inspection by an authorized mechanic who verifies that it is not a hazard on the road or harmful to the environment. An inspection is an official examination. Inspection can also mean "a close look at." If you discover a bug in your back yard, it might require a careful inspection to figure out what kind of insect it is. An idea might sound good, but on closer inspection, you find that it won't work. Think of inspection as someone looking closely at something to determine a set of facts.
Vocabulary lists containing inspection
Vocabulary from history writings about the Triangle Factory Fire
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"The Moustache" and "Who We Really Are"
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"Flesh & Blood So Cheap: The Triangle Fire and Its Legacy" by Albert Marrin
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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.
See Examples For:
"Once a year we will gather them in to have a bit of a closer inspection and make sure that they're all healthy and their welfare needs are met," she added.
From BBC ● Oct. 18, 2026
Troops in Stupnikov’s battalion were instructed to surrender their phones for inspection.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 16, 2026
A portion of Pacific Coast Highway in Orange County is closed after a crack appeared in the hillside below the road, prompting closer inspection from officials after last weekend’s storms and high surf.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 14, 2026
The Irkutsk region governor, Igor Kobzev, said Monday that an inspection by Rospotrebnadzor found she died of pneumonia of "undetermined" origin.
From Barron's ● Oct. 7, 2026
That was what mattered now: to get the swelling down, to pass the inspection.
From "The Hiding Place" by Corrie ten Boom
The Boeing 737 MAX is undergoing inspections to see if the extreme speeds and forces it was subjected to during the attack were severe enough to prevent the aircraft flying again.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 14, 2026
Cities out of compliance with the Environmental Protection Agency could get off that naughty list, and urban residents would no longer need annual inspections on their car emission systems.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 9, 2026
On Friday, Ofsted's chief inspector Sir Martyn Oliver said an independent survey of education providers showed it was "on the right track" with inspections.
From BBC ● Oct. 9, 2026
A county official told the BBC that such inspections focused largely on paperwork, and that residents were interviewed only when specific issues arose.
From BBC ● Oct. 4, 2026
He brings the candle closer and sees, in the shadows of the hanging shirts, what he missed on previous inspections: trails through the dust.
From "All the Light We Cannot See" by Anthony Doerr
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Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
