scrutiny
SKROO-tuh-nee
/ˈskruː.tə.ni/
Critical, searching, and deliberate observation or examination of someone or something.
Implies intense, careful inspection where flaws, errors, or hidden truths are actively sought.
The story behind the word. Traces back to Latin 'scrutari', which originally meant to search through trash or broken objects ('scruta'). Over centuries in English, the term elevated to mean searching thoroughly through records, behaviors, or public claims to discover underlying truths.
Word relationships
- inspection: Inspection can be routine, whereas scrutiny is typically searching, rigorous, and critical.
- disregard: The state of paying no attention or giving no careful thought to something.
Commonly confused with
- surveillance: Surveillance is covert visual monitoring over time, while scrutiny is intense analytical examination of actions or records.
Word family
- scrutinize (verb): To examine very carefully.
- scrutinizer (noun): One who scrutinizes.
Collocations
- intense scrutiny
- under scrutiny
- come under scrutiny
- withstand scrutiny
Idioms & expressions
- under the microscope
Example sentences
- "Public figures must learn to live under constant intense scrutiny from the press and public alike." Public life
Memory hook
SCRUTINY = using a magnifying glass to SCRUTINIZE every detail. Intense examination.
When not to use
Do not use for casual, superficial, or friendly glances.
Fun facts
- In parliamentary legal procedure, a 'scrutiny' is an official formal recount of votes cast in an election.
Explore more words
scrutinize, searching, inspection, inspect, probe, scrupulous
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