spot check

¹ American  

noun

1. a random sampling or quick sample investigation.

   A spot check showed that at least ten percent of the items were defective.

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spot-check ² American  

[spot-chek] / ˈspɒtˌtʃɛk /

verb (used with object)

1. to examine or investigate by means of a spot check.

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verb (used without object)

1. to conduct a spot check.

spot check British  

noun

1. a quick random examination

2. a check made without prior warning

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verb

1. (tr) to perform a spot check on

Other Word Forms

• spot-checker noun

Etymology

Origin of spot check¹

First recorded in 1940–45

Origin of spot-check²

First recorded in 1940–45

Example Sentences

When the special master overseeing a city court-ordered agreement to provide thousands of homeless shelter beds made a spot check at a South Los Angeles shelter she was disappointed in what she found.

From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 14, 2025

Later in 2021, an unconnected spot check revealed an item was missing and the museum began to uncover how many items had been taken or damaged.

From BBC • Dec. 12, 2023

But a spot check of candy displays in multiple states __ including California, Virginia and Washington __ found no such signs.

From Washington Times • Oct. 16, 2023

But without some reliance on automated methods, “You either have to spot check randomly, or you use your own human prejudice to choose what to check. And that’s not generally very fair.”

From Science Magazine • May 9, 2023

A spot check of newspapers in Philadelphia and New York reveals a pattern quite similar.

From Old English Patent Medicines in America by Griffenhagen, George B.