examination

noun

ex·​am·​i·​na·​tion ig-ˌza-mə-ˈnā-shən How to pronounce examination (audio)
1
: the act or process of examining : the state of being examined
2
: an exercise designed to examine progress or test qualification or knowledge
3
: a formal interrogation
examinational adjective

Example Sentences

On closer examination, the painting appears to be a fake. The victim's clothes were sent to the lab for examination. The police made a rigorous examination of the evidence at the crime scene. The court ordered that the defendant undergo a psychiatric examination. I have to study for the history examination. procedures that are not allowed during examination of witnesses See More
Recent Examples on the Web Director Felipe Gálvez’s searing examination of Chile’s colonial past is lead produced by Quijote Films’ Giancarlo Nasi, who admits co-production can be complicated particularly since Chile has few bilateral pacts with other countries. Anna Marie De La Fuente, Variety, 16 May 2023 The examination of white matter hyperintensities showed similar results, Carvalho said. Sandee Lamotte, CNN, 10 May 2023 The examination and excavation of the site was conducted by Bruwelheide, Douglas Owsley, a Smithsonian curator of biological anthropology, and Parno and his team of archaeologists. Michael E. Ruane, Anchorage Daily News, 5 May 2023 After the Texas Rangers and the Rains County and Hunt County sheriff’s offices recovered the remains, they were sent to the University of North Texas Center for Human Identification in Fort Worth for examination. Aria Jones, Dallas News, 5 May 2023 Cross examination: Trump’s defense attorneys questioned writer E. Jean Carroll on the stand on Monday in the trial litigating Carroll’s allegations that Trump raped her in the 1990s. Chuck Todd, NBC News, 2 May 2023 And while a wave of recent reports chronicling Justice Clarence Thomas' financial ties to a Texas billionaire alleged a more overt breach of rules and norms, an ABC News examination of how law schools engage with the court presents a more nuanced take on possible unethical conduct. Lucien Bruggeman, ABC News, 27 Apr. 2023 Hubbard’s work comes off abstract at first, but upon closer examination, images slowly come to the surface — a rocket, cigarettes, a tire. Steven Vargas, Los Angeles Times, 26 Apr. 2023 During its examination of the Shahed and Mohajer, the CAR team documented about 70 components that had been produced by 13 companies outside Iran. David Hambling, Popular Mechanics, 21 Apr. 2023 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'examination.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of examination was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near examination

Cite this Entry

“Examination.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/examination. Accessed 31 May. 2023.

Kids Definition

examination

noun
ex·​am·​i·​na·​tion ig-ˌzam-ə-ˈnā-shən How to pronounce examination (audio)
1
: the act or process of examining : the state of being examined
2
: a test to determine progress, fitness, or knowledge

Medical Definition

examination

noun
ex·​am·​i·​na·​tion ig-ˌzam-ə-ˈnā-shən How to pronounce examination (audio)
: the act or process of inspecting or testing for evidence of disease or abnormality see physical examination

Legal Definition

examination

noun
ex·​am·​i·​na·​tion
: the act or process of examining
especially : a formal questioning especially in a court proceeding see also cross-examination, direct examination, recross-examination, redirect examination compare affidavit, deposition

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