surveyor

[ ser-vey-er ]

noun

1. a person whose occupation is surveying. surveying.
2. an overseer or supervisor.
3. Chiefly British. a person who inspects something officially for the purpose of ascertaining condition, value, etc.
4. (formerly) a U.S. customs official responsible for ascertaining the quantity and value of imported merchandise.
5. (initial capital letter) U.S. Aerospace. one of a series of space probes (1966–68) that analyzed lunar soil and obtained other scientific information after soft-landing on the moon.

surveyor

/ sɜːˈveɪə /

noun

1. a person whose occupation is to survey land or buildings See also quantity surveyor
2. a person concerned with the official inspection of something for purposes of measurement and valuation
3. a person who carries out surveys, esp of ships ( marine surveyor ) to determine seaworthiness, etc
4. a customs official
5. archaic.
   a supervisor

Derived Forms

• surˈveyorˌship, noun

Other Words From

• sur·veyor·ship noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of surveyor¹

1375–1425; late Middle English surveio ( u ) r < Anglo-French surveiour; Middle French surve ( i ) our, equivalent to surve ( i )- ( survey ) + -our -or ²

Example Sentences

They say they offered to arrange for an independent surveyor to attend the home, which was agreed in April, but "the customer subsequently refused to commit to a date".

From BBC

The city's first firemaster was 23-year-old building surveyor James Braidwood, a man now considered the "father of the modern fire service".

From BBC

A surveyor’s report shows how rainwater penetrated the house leading to the damp, mould and dry rot.

From BBC

A building surveyor has been jailed for swindling the National Trust out of more than £1 million through false invoices.

From BBC

During the trial, the court heard whilst employed by the National Trust as a building surveyor, Roger Bryant fraudulently submitted invoices to the trust for building work that was not completed, either in whole or in part.

From BBC

Related Words

• assessor
• cartographer