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

Health inspectors observed a one-inch gap in the ventilation filters at the canopy hood. —Veronica Fernandez-Alvarado, Sacbee.com, 21 Nov. 2025

From dead cockroaches in the dining room to 2-month-old pesto, health inspectors in Missouri and Kansas found numerous violations at Kansas City-area restaurants last week. —Eleanor Nash, Kansas City Star, 21 Nov. 2025

To show what compliance looks like, inspectors walked CBS Colorado through an inspection at Saucy Chops, a licensed food truck that has operated in Denver for five years. —Jasmine Arenas, CBS News, 20 Nov. 2025

The inspector found two live roaches in the facility, as well as issues with insufficient hot water at one of the sinks. —Harriet Ramos, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 14 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