Word
scrutiny
Phoneticsscru·ti·ny, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈskɹutəni/
UK/skɹˈuːtɪni/
Definitions
01careful examination
C1 · Advanced Uncountable noun Formal
n. a very close and careful look at something to check for problems or details.
n. the act of examining something closely and minutely, often to ensure it meets a specific standard or to detect errors.
“The company's financial records are under close scrutiny by the government.”
“The proposed legislation came under intense public scrutiny after several independent analysts highlighted potential loopholes in the tax code.”
Usage
Often follows the prepositions 'under' or 'subject to'.
Synonyms
02checking election votes
C2 · Proficiency Countable noun Law Formal · Technical
n. a formal check of votes in an election to make sure the count is correct.
n. a formal examination of the votes cast in an election, typically conducted by a committee to verify the accuracy of the poll.
“The candidate requested a scrutiny of the ballots after the results were announced.”
“Following allegations of electoral fraud, the high court ordered a full scrutiny of the paper ballots in the disputed districts.”
Usage
In this sense, it is often a countable noun referring to the specific procedure.
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “scrutiny” in context.
Verb
01. escape scrutiny
“Small transactions often escape scrutiny because they fall below the reporting threshold.”
verb + noun
02. subject the proposal to scrutiny
“The committee decided to subject the proposal to intense scrutiny before making a final decision.”
verb + noun + prep + noun
03. withstand scrutiny
“The CEO's explanation failed to withstand scrutiny when the financial records were audited.”
verb + noun
Adjective
04. close scrutiny
“Upon close scrutiny, the painting was revealed to be a clever nineteenth-century forgery.”
adj + noun
05. intense scrutiny
“The government's immigration policy has come under intense scrutiny from human rights groups.”
adj + noun
Noun
06. level of scrutiny
“Public figures must accept a higher level of scrutiny regarding their private lives.”
noun + of + noun
Preposition
07. under scrutiny
“The athlete's performance is under scrutiny following allegations of using banned substances.”
prep + noun
08. scrutiny of his finances
Real-World Examples
“The investigation into an alleged failure to declare an interest was paused after Farage resigned as an MP last month in response to scrutiny of his financial backing, triggering the by-election.” “The voting rules have been under scrutiny since the Israeli government encouraged fans to register multiple votes for the country's contestant in 2025.” “The airline has already been under scrutiny after a June 2025 flight from Ahmedabad to London crashed shortly after take-off, killing 241 people on board and 19 on the ground.” “Labour say Farage has been trying to "dodge scrutiny", and the Conservatives argue he triggered this race because he was having a "hissy fit".” Etymology
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”).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
VERB
NOUN
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- C1 · AdvancedOxford
- Updated
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QR code
englishreference.com/q/scrutiny