surveyor
- 01 B2 Upper Intermediate
a person whose job is to measure land and find the exact positions of boundaries or features.
a professional who determines the precise location of points and the distances and angles between them to establish maps and boundaries.
Simple“The surveyor used a special camera on a tripod to measure the field before the builders arrived.”
In context“The land surveyor was hired to resolve the boundary dispute by precisely mapping the property lines according to the original deeds.”
UsageOften used in the context of construction, civil engineering, and property law.
Synonymscartographertopographer - 02 B2 Upper Intermediate
a person who examines a building to see if it is in good condition, usually before someone buys it.
a professional who inspects the structural condition and value of a building, typically for a buyer or an insurance company.
Simple“We hired a surveyor to check the house for damp and roof problems before we signed the contract.”
In context“The chartered surveyor identified several structural flaws in the Victorian terrace that the prospective buyers had completely overlooked.”
UsageIn British English, this specifically refers to a 'building surveyor' or 'chartered surveyor'.
Teacher's tipIn American English, this role is more commonly called a 'home inspector' or 'appraiser'.
- 03 C1 Advanced
someone who carries out a survey or asks people questions to collect information.
an individual or agent responsible for conducting a survey, poll, or data collection exercise.
Simple“The market research surveyor asked shoppers about their favorite brands of coffee.”
In context“The government surveyor spent weeks collecting data from local businesses to assess the impact of the new tax policy.”
Teacher's tipWhile technically correct, 'pollster' or 'researcher' is much more common in modern speech for this sense.
Synonymspollsterresearcher