- a person who inspects, esp an official who examines for compliance with regulations, standards, etc
- a police officer ranking below a superintendent or chief inspector and above a sergeant
WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026
in•spect /ɪnˈspɛkt/USA pronunciation
v. [~ + object]
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026- to look carefully at or over:to inspect every part of a motor.
- to examine officially:The general inspected the troops.
in•spec•tor
(in spek′tər),USA pronunciation n.
in•spec′to•ral, in•spec•to•ri•al
(in′spek tôr′ē əl, -tōr′-),USA pronunciation adj.
in•spec′tor•ship′, n.
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026- a person who inspects.
- an officer appointed to inspect.
- a police officer usually ranking next below a superintendent.
- Latin, equivalent. to inspec-, variant stem of inspicere (see inspect) + -tor -tor
- 1595–1605;
in•spect
(in spekt′),USA pronunciation v.t.
in•spect′a•ble, adj.
in•spect′a•bil′i•ty, n.
in•spect′ing•ly, adv.
- to look carefully at or over;
view closely and critically:to inspect every part of the motor. - to view or examine formally or officially:The general inspected the troops.
- Latin inspectus, past participle of inspicere to look into, inspect. See in-2, species
- 1615–25
in•spect′a•bil′i•ty, n.
in•spect′ing•ly, adv.
- 1. examine, scrutinize, investigate, study.
Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::
inspector /ɪnˈspɛktə/ n