ENGLISH
REFERENCE

scrutiny

n. uncountable
C1 Advanced Oxford US //ˈskɹutəni// UK //skɹˈuːtɪni// scru·ti·ny Archaic

n. the act of looking at something very carefully to find any mistakes or problems. You use this when someone is checking every detail of a plan or a person's behavior.

n. critical observation or examination of something. Often implies a search for flaws, inconsistencies, or evidence of wrongdoing.


SIMPLE

The new law will face close scrutiny from the public.

CONTEXTUAL

After the accounting error was discovered, every financial record from the last five years came under intense scrutiny.

COMPLEX

The candidate's private life was subjected to such relentless media scrutiny that the original policy debate was entirely overshadowed by tabloid speculation.

Synonyms
Origin

From Middle English scrutiny, from Medieval Latin scrūtinium (“a search, an inquiry”), from Vulgar Latin scrūtor (“to search or examine thoroughly”), from Late Latin scrūta (“rubbish, broken trash”), from an extension of Proto-Indo-European *(s)ker- (“to cut”).

Usage

Commonly follows the verbs 'subject to', 'undergo', or 'face'; often modified by adjectives like 'close', 'intense', or 'rigorous'.

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