inspection
in-SPEK-shun
/ɪnˈspɛkʃən/
Careful examination or scrutiny of something.
An inspection is a physical 'look' at a product to see if it has defects, whereas an audit is a 'look' at the process.
The story behind the word. The word comes from the Latin 'inspicere', which means 'to look into'. It suggests that you aren't just looking at the surface of something, but you are looking 'into' it to find what might be hidden or wrong.
Word relationships
- examination: An examination is a general term for looking at something; an inspection is specifically looking for flaws or compliance.
- oversight: An oversight is a failure to notice something, the opposite of a careful inspection.
Commonly confused with
- audit: An inspection is usually of a physical object; an audit is usually of a process or financial records.
Word family
- inspect (verb): To look at something closely, typically to assess its condition.
- inspector (noun): An official who examines for compliance with regulations.
Collocations
- visual inspection
- safety inspection
- on closer inspection
Idioms & expressions
- pass inspection
Example sentences
- "The health department conducted a surprise inspection of the restaurant's kitchen." Public Safety
- "The general performed a thorough inspection of the troops and their equipment." Military
Memory hook
Inspection is 'In-Spec-tion'—looking 'In' to see if it meets the 'Spec'. Looking into the details.
When not to use
Avoid using for a casual glance; it implies a purposeful search for flaws or compliance.
Fun facts
- The first 'inspectors of factories' were appointed in Britain in 1833 to enforce child labor laws.
- In software engineering, a 'code inspection' is a formal peer review of source code.
Related words
Explore more words
inspect, scrutinize, audit, take a look, quality control, observation
Also appears in
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