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

The inspector also found evidence suggesting that the path had been considered private for several decades. — Stefania Conrieri, Vanity Fair, 21 Sep. 2026

The guide’s inspectors have swarmed new regions from South Korea to South Carolina to find the greatest dining destinations. — Mike Desimone, Robb Report, 20 Sep. 2026

Similar to the famed Michelin Stars awarded to restaurants, the tire maker’s hospitality guide gives one-, two- and three-key designations to hotels based on the evaluations of anonymous inspectors. — Henri Hollis, AJC.com, 19 Sep. 2026

But Peter Baker, a former FDA inspector whose work involved the very companies impacted by the bill, said that amount of time is unnecessary. — Naisha Roy, ProPublica, 18 Sep. 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