examination

examination — noun

1. The activity of looking very closely at someone or something, with the aim of di

1.nounB2
Definition

The activity of looking very closely at someone or something, with the aim of discovering problems, errors, or the truth about them.

Example

A careful examination of the car engine by the mechanic revealed a cracked pipe.

examination + of + noun phrase for inspecting an object

Art experts who gave the painting a closer examination realized it was a modern copy.

collocation: close / closer examination

Common collocations
  • careful examination
  • close examination
  • thorough examination
  • detailed examination
  • full examination
  • medical examination
  • physical examination
  • under examination
  • on examination
  • examination of the facts
Synonyms
  • inspection

    More focused on checking for defects or standards; used in official or technical settings

  • scrutiny

    Suggests very close, critical, and detailed observation; stronger than examination

  • analysis

    Focuses on breaking something down into parts to understand it; often scientific or data-driven

  • review

    Often used for documents, performance, or past events; implies re-examining rather than first-time inspection

Antonyms
  • neglect

    Failure to give proper attention or inspection

Grammar Patterns

examination + of + noun phrase

under examination

on (closer) examination

Usage Note

Often used with the preposition 'of' to name the thing being inspected ('an examination of the facts'). The phrase 'under examination' means something is currently being inspected. In formal British English, 'on examination' or 'upon examination' can introduce the result of an inspection ('Upon closer examination, the contract had several errors').

Common Mistakes

The doctor made a careful examination for the patient.
The doctor carried out a careful examination of the patient.
The object being inspected takes 'of', not 'for'.
The police did examination of the crime scene.
The police did an examination of the crime scene.
When countable, use the article 'a/an' before 'examination'.

2. A formal test, either written or spoken, that measures a person's knowledge or a

2.nounA2
Definition

A formal test, either written or spoken, that measures a person's knowledge or ability in a particular subject, commonly taken in schools and universities.

Example

Lan spent the whole weekend studying for her final mathematics examination.

collocation: final examination

The university entrance examination takes place every year in early June.

collocation: university entrance examination

Common collocations
  • final examination
  • entrance examination
  • written examination
  • oral examination
  • take an examination
  • sit an examination
  • pass an examination
  • fail an examination
  • examination results
  • examination paper
Synonyms
  • exam

    The short, everyday form of 'examination'; used in informal and neutral contexts

  • test

    Can be smaller in scope than an examination; also used for skills (driving test) and medical contexts

  • quiz

    A short, informal test, often without much advance notice

  • assessment

    Broader term that may include coursework, projects, and continuous evaluation

Grammar Patterns

take / sit an examination

pass / fail an examination

examination in + subject

Usage Note

In everyday conversation, the short form 'exam' is far more common than 'examination'. Use 'examination' in formal writing, official documents, and academic contexts. In British English, you 'sit an examination'; in American English, you 'take an examination'. The phrase 'examination in' names the subject ('an examination in history').

Common Mistakes

I have a driving examination next week.
I have a driving test next week.
For vehicle licences, the usual word is 'test', not 'examination'.
She did well on the final examine.
She did well on the final examination.
The noun form is 'examination', not 'examine' (which is a verb).

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

All four words involve looking at something carefully, but they differ in focus and intensity. 'Inspection' is the most practical and results-oriented — you inspect a building for safety or a product for defects, often against a checklist. 'Scrutiny' is the most intense and critical; it implies looking for hidden flaws or judging what is being examined. A person under scrutiny feels watched and judged. 'Analysis' is more intellectual and methodical — you break a problem, a text, or data into parts to understand how it works, often in science or business. 'Review' is the gentlest and most retrospective — you re-examine past work, events, or documents, sometimes to evaluate, sometimes just to refresh your memory ('a review of the patient's medical history'). Use 'examination' when you need a neutral, general term for careful looking; pick 'inspection' for practical checks, 'scrutiny' for critical judgment, 'analysis' for methodical study, and 'review' for re-examination over time.

inspection ↗scrutiny ↗analysis ↗review ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

Phrases

  • under examination
  • on closer examination
  • upon examination
  • subject to examination

Prepositions

Etymology

LatinOld FrenchEnglish

Examination comes from the Latin verb 'examinare', which meant 'to weigh carefully' — like putting something on a balance scale to check its weight or value. The root 'examen' originally referred to the pointer or tongue of a weighing scale. This image of weighing something to test its quality is still present in the modern meaning: when you examine something, you 'weigh up' its details. The word entered English through Old French ('examiner') and has been used since the 14th century.