screening
Word family
Synonym discussion
Sense: noun/2
Screening, checkup, examination, and test all involve checking health, but they differ in purpose and scope. A screening is a broad check applied to large groups or populations, aiming to find early signs of disease before symptoms appear — it does not give a diagnosis, only an indication that further investigation is needed (e.g., a cancer screening identifies who needs a biopsy). A checkup is a routine, general health visit to monitor overall wellness, often done annually regardless of any symptoms. An examination is a detailed assessment by a doctor, usually focused on a specific complaint or body system (e.g., a neurological exam). A test is a single procedure that measures one specific thing, such as a blood test for glucose or a vision test. For example: 'The health screening flagged several patients for follow-up, who then went for a thorough examination and a series of diagnostic tests.'
Common collocations
Nouns
- health screening
- cancer screening
- film screening
- window screening
Phrases
- screening process
- screening results
- screening programme
- screening room
Prepositions
- screening for — used with tests or events (screening for cancer, screening for the press)
- screening of — used for film events (screening of the documentary)
- screening at — used for locations (screening at the cinema)
Etymology
The word screening comes from screen, which entered Middle English from Anglo-French escren, and earlier from Middle Dutch scherm meaning a protective shield or covering. The original sense of screen was a physical barrier against heat, light, or wind. By the 19th century, screen had extended to the mesh covering for windows (giving us sense 3: screening as netting), and later to the surface on which images are projected (the cinema screen). From the verb to screen, meaning to examine or evaluate (by analogy with the way a sieve or screen sifts material), we get sense 2: medical screening. The film-related sense 1 (a showing) comes from the verb to screen meaning to project a film onto a screen, first recorded in the early 20th century.