Inspect: Looking With a Standard in Mind
To inspect is to examine something officially or carefully. What separates it from looking is that an inspection has criteria.
To inspect is to examine something closely, usually against a standard. That is the difference from simply looking. An inspector arrives with a checklist: is the wiring safe, is the kitchen clean, is the bridge sound. Inspection produces a judgement, not just a view.
- To examine carefully or officially. *Inspect the brakes.*
- To visit in an official capacity. *The chief inspected the station.*
Word forms
| Form | Word | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Verb | inspect | Inspect the site. |
| Past | inspected | Inspected monthly. |
| Noun | inspection | A safety inspection. |
| Person | inspector | A school inspector. |
| Noun | inspectorate | The prisons inspectorate. |
How it is used in a sentence
- Lifts must be inspected twice a year.Regulatory language.
- The goods are available for inspection.A standard phrase in trade.
- An inspector called at the school.Inspector is a job title in several fields.
Examining verbs
- Inspect — check against a standard
- Examine — look closely to reach a judgement
- Survey — take an overall view or measurement
- Audit — check records systematically
- Vet — check someone's background before approval
From Latin *inspectare*, to look into, from *in* and *specere*, to look — the same root as *spectator*, *suspect*, *respect* and *spectacles*.
Inspect or examine?
Inspection usually implies an official standard; examination is broader and includes medical and academic senses.
What is an inspectorate?
The body of inspectors for a sector, such as schools, prisons or food safety, together with its organisation.