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inspection

inspection

356 2.5
A careful official check to see if something meets rules and is safe
  • noun
  • /ɪnˈspɛkʃən/
  • Formal
translation icon : inspección
  • The safety officer conducted a thorough inspection of the building to ensure it met all regulations.
  • conduct an inspection
  • a safety inspection
  • a routine inspection

There was no dot bridge inspection program.

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Examples

  • Gentlemen, upon closer inspection, your proposal is not as generous as you led us to believe.

  • Please present your equipment for inspection.

  • We had found a house a couple weeks ago and we had the inspection on Friday.

  • What kind of food inspection is this?

  • Perhaps a closer inspection will tell us something.

  • We have a lot of duplication in the inspection process.

  • We're just so busy with our bi-annual inspection here.

  • I have an inspection I can't get out of.

  • Would you please have your passports available for inspection... ...as you pass through the departure gate?

  • North Korea promised to allow inspections and to stay in the NPT.

    Academic text (1999)

Synonyms

test
vsinspection
1.0

An activity to check how well something works

is an official examination of compliance rather than an experimental check
check
vsinspection
720 1.0

An act of looking at something to make sure it is correct

is more formal and official, focused on compliance checks
review
vsinspection
490 3.0

A check by a doctor to see progress or problems

is an official examination aimed specifically at rules and standards
scrutiny
vsinspection
168 5.5

A close, careful look at something to find mistakes or problems

is formal and official rather than only intensely detailed
scan
vsinspection
138 3.8

A careful check of something using a device

is a formal human-led examination, not instrument focused
examination
vsinspection
110 2.3

Careful study of something to find problems or details

is the formal official check aimed at compliance rather than general study
survey
vsinspection
97 2.8

An inspection in which someone looks carefully to check condition

is focused on formal compliance rather than general condition recording
audit
vsinspection
  • Formal
45 4.9

A careful check of a company's money records by people from outside to find mistakes

is a formal check of any area, not limited to finances
going-over
vsinspection
14 4.9

A careful check of something to find problems

is the formal official examination rather than an informal thorough check
spot check
vsinspection
3 3.6

A short surprise test to see if work meets standards

is planned and formal rather than random or surprise based
precheck
vsinspection
1 3.8

A check you do before an event to find problems

is the main formal examination carried out for compliance
reinspection
vsinspection
  • Specialized
1 4.2

A second check of a place or thing to make sure it meets standards

is the general official examination, not necessarily a repeat
OSI
vsinspection
  • Formal
7.7

An official inspection at the place to check if rules are followed

is the official examination concept without specifying location
scrutinization
vsinspection
  • US
7.2

A careful, close look at something to find small details

is an official or formal examination rather than just intense scrutiny

Antonyms

256 3.8

Fail to care for someone or something you should look after

Compounds

Federal officers who protect the mail, postal workers, and customers

A government agency that investigates crimes involving the mail

How Formal

inquiry
  • Formal
322 4.4
investigation
2.9
audit
69 4.4
inspection
  • Formal
356 2.5
check
720 1.0

Surface Forms

inspection singular
inspections plural

Morphology

inspection = inspect (transparent) = inspect + ion

Standard nominalization of the verb 'inspect' with '-ion' yields the expected meaning 'the act or process of inspecting', which is directly derivable.

Etymology

The word inspection comes from the parts in- ('into') and spect ('to look'), the same root you see in spectator ('a watcher'). So an inspection is literally a careful 'look into' something, which is why it means an official check to make sure things are right.