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

Her legislative aide at the time, Alessandro Marchesani, forwarded complaints about Airbnbs to the state agency, city officials and city inspectors. — Linda Robertson, Miami Herald, 25 July 2026

During the second inspection, inspectors found decaying organic waste, wastewater, food residue, unsanitary conditions that allowed the breeding of flies, as well as live and dead flies along the northern perimeter of the warehouse. — Los Angeles Times, 25 July 2026

Restaurants and other food vendors ordered to close and allowed to reopen by Orange County health inspectors from July 16 to July 23. — Ian Wheeler, Oc Register, 25 July 2026

Additionally, health inspectors cited four other eateries for violations including a lack of toilet paper in the women’s restroom and one location that lacked an employee who had passed a food safety certification test. — Veronica Fernandez-Alvarado july 24, Sacbee.com, 24 July 2026

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