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

Last month, a new inspector sent a violation in the mail issuing a new fine. —Larry Seward, CBS News, 2 Jan. 2026

In May 2022, site inspectors found 27 violations, 10 of them repeats of previous violations. —Andy Rose, CNN Money, 1 Jan. 2026

During a Tuesday operation involving Hialeah police and postal inspectors, the two men — Densom Beaucejour, 33, and Thervil Alcinor, 45 — were arrested while actively trying to steal mail, the affidavit said. —Sofia Saric, Miami Herald, 31 Dec. 2025

The Pembroke man was a postal inspector, investigating scams that targeted senior citizens and other vulnerable populations. —Isabelle Friedman, Boston Herald, 31 Dec. 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