# profiling

/ˈpɹoʊˌfaɪɫɪŋ/ (US) · /pɹˈəʊfaɪlɪŋ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/profiling
Updated: 2026-08-27

## Senses

### 1. forensic/behavioral analysis

noun · CEFR B2

the act of collecting information about a person to decide what kind of person they are or what they might do.

For teachers: the process of constructing a psychological or behavioral outline of a person based on forensic evidence or observed patterns.

- The police used criminal profiling to help identify the suspect in the case.
- Behavioral profiling has become a standard tool in modern investigations, allowing detectives to narrow down their search based on specific personality traits.

### 2. data collection

noun · CEFR B2 · Technical

collecting information about people's habits, often to show them specific advertisements.

For teachers: the recording and analysis of a person's psychological and behavioral characteristics, so as to assess or forecast their capabilities in a certain sphere.

- Many websites use profiling to show you ads for things you recently searched for.
- Consumer profiling allows marketing firms to target specific demographics with high precision, though it often raises significant privacy concerns among users.

### 4. military construction

noun · CEFR C2 · Archaic · Technical

setting up wooden frames to show workers the shape of a wall or bank of earth.

For teachers: the erection of wooden profiles at intervals to guide workmen in the sectional form of parapets or fieldworks.

- The engineers finished the profiling of the trenches before the main construction began.
- Historical accounts of the siege detail the meticulous profiling required to ensure the parapets met the necessary defensive specifications.

Usage: Primarily found in historical military engineering contexts.

## Examples

- The police use criminal profiling to help catch suspects.
- Social media companies use consumer profiling to show you ads that match your interests and shopping habits.
- Civil rights advocates often argue that racial profiling by security agencies undermines public trust and leads to systemic bias in the justice system.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.