examination

[ ig-zam-uh-ney-shuhn ]

noun

1. the act of examining; inspection; inquiry; investigation.

   Synonyms: observation

2. the state of being examined.
3. the act or process of testing pupils, candidates, etc., as by questions.
4. the test itself; the list of questions asked.
5. the answers, statements, etc., made by one examined.
6. Law. formal interrogation.

examination

/ ɪɡˌzæmɪˈneɪʃən /

noun

1. the act of examining or state of being examined
2. education
   1. written exercises, oral questions, or practical tasks, set to test a candidate's knowledge and skill
   2. ( as modifier )

      an examination paper

3. med
   1. physical inspection of a patient or parts of his body, in order to verify health or diagnose disease
   2. laboratory study of secretory or excretory products, tissue samples, etc, esp in order to diagnose disease
4. law the formal interrogation of a person on oath, esp of an accused or a witness

Derived Forms

• exˌamiˈnational, adjective

Other Words From

• ex·ami·nation·al adjective
• preex·ami·nation noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of examination¹

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English examinacioun, from Middle French, Old French examinacion, examination, “interrogation,” from Latin exāminātiōn- (stem of exāminātiō ). See examine, -ation

Synonym Study

Examination, inspection, scrutiny refer to a looking at something. An examination usually means a careful noting of details: A thorough examination of the plumbing revealed a defective pipe. An inspection is a formal and official examination: an inspection of records, a military inspection. Scrutiny implies a critical and minutely detailed examination: The papers seemed to be in good order, but they would not stand close scrutiny. investigation.

Example Sentences

Hence Trump’s cynical strategy to slip him into position through a recess appointment, which would insulate him from a full background investigation and an excoriating examination by Democrats.

From Los Angeles Times

A post-mortem examination found Sara had suffered dozens of injuries including "probable human bite marks", an iron burn and scalding from hot water before she died on 8 August 2023.

From BBC

Under cross examination, he was questioned about a burn to Sara’s buttocks and bite marks, which he denies causing.

From BBC

An examination of antibodies in 115 dairy workers from Michigan and Colorado showed that eight people were positive for the disease, or 7% of the study population — indicating that either workers were not reporting illness, or they were asymptomatic.

From Los Angeles Times

Directed by Billie Mintz, “Making Manson” is a new examination of the notorious criminal in his own words collected through 20 years’ worth of phone calls with a friend.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• audit
• checking
• checkup
• cross-examination
• diagnosis
• experiment
• exploration
• inquiry
• inspection
• interrogation
• investigation
• observation
• probe
• questioning
• questionnaire
• raid
• research
• review
• scan
• scrutiny