examination

noun

ex·​am·​i·​na·​tion ig-ˌza-mə-ˈnā-shən 

1

: the act or process of examining : the state of being examined

2

: an exercise designed to examine progress or test qualification or knowledge

3

: a formal interrogation

examinational

ig-ˌza-mə-ˈnā-sh(ə-)nəl 

adjective

Synonyms of examination

• exam
• test

Examples of examination in a Sentence

On closer examination, the painting appears to be a fake.

The victim's clothes were sent to the lab for examination.

The police made a rigorous examination of the evidence at the crime scene.

The court ordered that the defendant undergo a psychiatric examination.

I have to study for the history examination.

procedures that are not allowed during examination of witnesses

Recent Examples on the Web

Inside an interrogation room built for the occasion, members of the public will undergo a polygraph examination conducted by a real-life specialist, Ørjan Hesjedal, the festival announced Monday. —John Hopewell, Variety, 12 Jan. 2026

It's detected only on a urine dipstick, often a routine one performed during a check-up, and confirmed by microscopic examination of the urine sample. —Colleen Doherty, Verywell Health, 12 Jan. 2026

The Ellisons’ control of the fourth-largest TV audience and their significant interest in the most popular social media app would warrant their own examination. —Jeffrey Sonnenfeld, Fortune, 12 Jan. 2026

Prosecutors attempted to recover from the cross examinations by highlighting the urgency of the police response to a mass shooting. —Peter Charalambous, ABC News, 12 Jan. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing examination

• cross-examination
• direct examination
• entrance examination
• examination table
• physical examination
• postmortem examination
• redirect examination
• re-examination
• self-examination
• under examination

Rhymes for examination

• abbreviation
• abomination
• acceleration
• accentuation
• accommodation
• accreditation
• acculturation
• accumulation
• acetylation
• adjudication
• administration
• adulteration

Kids Definition

examination

noun

ex·​am·​i·​na·​tion ig-ˌzam-ə-ˈnā-shən 

1

: the act or process of examining : the state of being examined

2

: a test to determine progress, fitness, or knowledge

Medical Definition

examination

noun

ex·​am·​i·​na·​tion ig-ˌzam-ə-ˈnā-shən 

: the act or process of inspecting or testing for evidence of disease or abnormality see physical examination

Legal Definition

examination

noun

ex·​am·​i·​na·​tion

: the act or process of examining

especially : a formal questioning especially in a court proceeding see also cross-examination, direct examination, recross-examination, redirect examination compare affidavit, deposition