inspector

noun

in·​spec·​tor in-ˈspek-tər 

1

: a person employed to inspect something

2

a

: a police officer who is in charge of usually several precincts and ranks below a superintendent or deputy superintendent

b

: a person appointed to oversee a polling place

inspectorship

in-ˈspek-tər-ˌship 

noun

Examples of inspector in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Depending on the tip, the inspector may come to the property and provide the police with their findings. —Everett Eaton, jsonline.com, 5 Dec. 2025

Health inspectors gave the Sacramento Mexican restaurant a yellow placard after failing to find paper towels at two hand sinks in the kitchen and the all-gender restroom’s hand sink. —Sacbee.com, 5 Dec. 2025

Season three of Tehran stars Laurie as Eric Peterson, a South African nuclear inspector. —Lily Ford, HollywoodReporter, 4 Dec. 2025

The inspector saw an employee washing pans with soap and water, but not following up with any sanitizing step. —David J. Neal, Miami Herald, 24 Nov. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1602, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing inspector

• inspector general

Rhymes for inspector

• bisector
• collector
• connector
• corrector
• defector
• deflector
• detector
• director
• dissector
• effector
• ejector
• elector

Kids Definition

inspector

noun

in·​spec·​tor in-ˈspek-tər 

1

: a person who makes inspections

meat inspector

2

: a police officer ranking just below a superintendent or deputy superintendent

inspectorship

-ˌship 

noun

Legal Definition

inspector

noun

in·​spec·​tor

1

: a person employed or authorized to inspect something

2

: a police officer in charge of a number of precincts and ranking below a superintendent or deputy superintendent