scrutiny

SKROO-ti-nee/ˈskɹuː.tɪ.ni/

6 meanings of scrutiny

1
noununcountable
A careful, close look at something to check it for problems.
Like checking your homework line by line to find every mistake.
The new safety plan came under close scrutiny from the inspection team.
Every receipt was given careful scrutiny before the company paid it.
Similarexamination, investigation, inspection, review, analysis
Note
2
noununcountable
Watching or studying someone or something very closely.
Like a cat watching every move a mouse makes.
The new student felt the scrutiny of everyone in the room.
Under his coach's scrutiny, he checked every step of his routine.
Similarexamination, inspection, observation, surveillance, review
Note
3
noununcountable
A check of an election's votes by a group of people, done to fix mistakes in the count.
Like a referee reviewing a replay to fix a wrong call.
After the close vote, the council called for a scrutiny of the ballots.
The losing side asked for a scrutiny to recheck the count.
Similarrecount, audit
Note
4
noununcountable
A small piece of paper that a person writes a vote on.
Like a little slip of paper where you mark your choice.
Every man wrote his choice on a small scrutiny.
The official gathered each scrutiny from the table and counted them.
Similarballot
5
noununcountable
A church test for people getting ready for baptism, held just before Easter.
Like a final check to make sure someone is ready before a big day.
The new members went through a scrutiny before their Easter baptism.
The church held a scrutiny for everyone preparing to be baptized.
Note

Less common meaning

6
verbobsolete
To look at something very closely and carefully to check it.
Like checking each word of a letter so nothing is missed.
The judges would scrutiny every detail of the case before deciding.
He sat down to scrutiny the old letters one by one.
Note

Practice

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Origin

It comes from a Latin word meaning a search or inquiry, linked to a word for searching or examining something thoroughly.