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 found two pots stored on the floor beneath a preparation table. —Camila Pedrosa, Sacbee.com, 17 Apr. 2026

Behind kitchen equipment, the inspector estimated 40 to 50 roach corpses. —David J. Neal, Miami Herald, 17 Apr. 2026

The lawsuit says Flyers was cited by state inspectors for damaged and missing ceiling tiles in May 2025, five months before Stover was injured. —Silas Morgan, The Orlando Sentinel, 16 Apr. 2026

Iran was about to show IAEA inspectors a new facility in June 2025 when Israel attacked—a day after the agency’s board declared Tehran was violating the nuclear nonproliferation treaty. —Karl Vick, Time, 15 Apr. 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