Origin: Latin suffix -tion
Examination has 6 different meanings across 1 category:
the act of examining something closely (as for mistakes)
"After months of review, the committee began its final examination of the financial reports to ensure no discrepancies remained."
a set of questions or exercises evaluating skill or knowledge
"when the test was stolen the professor had to make a new set of questions"
formal systematic questioning
"The job interview turned into a rigorous examination of his past projects and problem-solving skills."
a detailed inspection of your conscience (as done daily by Jesuits)
"Before retiring, he spent ten minutes in quiet examination to ensure his thoughts had not strayed from the day's vows."
the act of giving students or candidates a test (as by questions) to determine what they know or have learned
"The final examination for the history class will consist entirely of short-answer questions about the Cold War."
The act of examining.
"The doctor spent twenty minutes carefully performing a physical examination to check for any signs of infection."
In plain English: An examination is a formal test where someone checks your knowledge or looks closely at something to see if it is healthy.
"The doctor performed a thorough examination to check for any signs of illness."
Usage: Use "examination" to refer to the formal process of inspecting something or administering a test to evaluate knowledge. It describes the act itself rather than the result or the person performing the check.
The word examination comes from the Latin exāminātiō, which originally referred to a process of testing or scrutiny. It entered English through Middle English and Old French with this same sense of careful inspection.