Origin: Latin suffix -tion
Inspection has 2 different meanings across 1 category:
a formal or official examination
"the platoon stood ready for review"
"we had to wait for the inspection before we could use the elevator"
The act of examining something, often closely.
"The mechanic spent an hour performing a detailed inspection of the engine before giving me his final report."
In plain English: An inspection is when someone carefully checks something to see if it is safe, working properly, or follows the rules.
"The safety inspection revealed that the fire extinguisher needed to be replaced."
Usage: Use "inspection" to describe the formal or thorough act of examining something, such as a safety check or a detailed review of documents. It typically implies an official procedure rather than a casual look-over.
The word "inspection" comes from Middle French and Old French, ultimately tracing back to the Latin inspectio, which meant examination or looking closely. It entered English through these earlier forms rather than being formed directly from the modern English words "inspect" and "-ion."