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

Timothy Bayly, a police chief inspector in Australia, said beaches at Crowdy Bay National Park were closed to swimmers indefinitely after a shark killed a woman and seriously wounded a man. —Arkansas Online, 28 Nov. 2025

Government inspectors had flagged safety risks at the complex before the fire. —Shawna Kwan, Fortune, 28 Nov. 2025

Ainsley, meanwhile, sticks her foot out and trips the other investigator, sending the inspectors both clattering to the ground. —Emlyn Travis, Entertainment Weekly, 27 Nov. 2025

Sacramento County health inspectors gave the Indian restaurant a yellow placard after not finding soap at the handwashing sink in the men’s restroom. —Sacbee.com, 27 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