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 found droppings by the ice cream freezer, fecal matter on the toilet and dirty floors throughout the facility. — Harriet Ramos, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 11 July 2026

Trees uprooted, snapped NWS damage inspectors found the most concentrated damage where the tornado tracked east across Dirty Ankle Road and Ankle Road. — Joe Marusak, Charlotte Observer, 11 July 2026

Two Sacramento-area eateries were temporarily shut down by county health inspectors after violations including a cockroach infestation, a clogged sink and a non-flushing toilet. — Ruyuan Li. Summary Produced By Ai Assistance, Sacbee.com, 10 July 2026

Funk also served as an airline transport pilot, an international aviation expert and the first female inspector for the Federal Aviation Administration. — Michael Loria, USA Today, 10 July 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