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 noted lettuce and tomatoes at an unsafe temperature, a missing thermometer in the freezer and two dead roaches near the three-compartment sink. —Harriet Ramos, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 14 Mar. 2026

The inspector lifted the blender and found three dead roaches in the bottom of the blender. —David J. Neal, Miami Herald, 13 Mar. 2026

Health inspectors found excessive old food debris accumulation on the meat slicer handle. —Sacbee.com, 13 Mar. 2026

Brewster will play Kat Claiborne, a seasoned inspector at the San Francisco Police Department. —Nellie Andreeva, Deadline, 13 Mar. 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