English Reference

Word

inspection

Phoneticsin·spec·tion

US/ˌɪnˈspɛkʃən/

UK/ɪnspˈɛkʃən/

Definitions

01careful examination

B2

n. the act of looking at something closely to check its condition or to find problems.

n. the act of examining something carefully and critically, often to detect flaws or verify quality.

“On closer inspection, the mechanic found a small crack in the engine.”

“Upon closer inspection of the ancient manuscript, the researchers discovered faint marginalia that had been overlooked for centuries.”

Usage

Often used with the preposition 'of' before the object being checked.

Antonyms

02official visit

B2

n. an official visit to a place, like a school or factory, to make sure everything is safe and follows the rules.

n. a formal or official viewing of a facility or organisation to ensure compliance with regulations or standards.

“The restaurant had to close for a day during the health inspection.”

“The factory underwent a rigorous safety inspection following the implementation of the new environmental protocols.”

Usage

Commonly used in the context of health, safety, or education.

03regulatory body

C1 · Law

n. an official group or organization that checks that laws and rules are being obeyed.

n. an administrative body or agency tasked with monitoring and enforcing specific legal or professional standards.

“The school is waiting for the report from the national education inspection.”

“The maritime inspection has the authority to detain any vessel that fails to meet international safety requirements.”

Formal · Technical

Usage

Often functions as a collective noun for the department itself.

Real-World Examples

“The engine’s fan blades underwent ultrasonic inspections in November 2025 and May 2026, with no damage detected.”
Al Jazeera · 14 Aug 2026
“The fan blades had undergone ultrasonic inspections in recent months with “no findings”.”
The Guardian · 14 Aug 2026
“The engine had undergone ultrasonic inspections in May this year with no findings of fault, the report stated.”
BBC News · 13 Aug 2026
“Closer inspection reveals less homely details: conspiracy magazines and lurid novels, which in the presumed abduction scenario in which Lena finds herself, are hardly reassuring.”
The Guardian · 13 Aug 2026

Etymology

From Middle French, from Old French inspeccion, from Latin īnspectiō (“examination, inspection”), from the verb īnspiciō (“to inspect”), from speciō (“to look at”). By surface analysis, inspect + -ion.

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Collocations

visual inspection

Word family

inspectVerbinspectionNouninspectorNoun

This entry

Level
C1 · Advanced
Frequency
Common
Updated

Scan code

englishreference.com/q/inspection

English Reference