inspector

noun

in·​spec·​tor in-ˈspek-tər How to pronounce inspector (audio)
Synonyms of inspectornext
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 noun

Examples of inspector in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Required labor will include nuclear welders, precision machinists, metallurgists, reactor engineers, quality inspectors, physicists, systems engineers, and manufacturing engineers. Christopher McFadden, Interesting Engineering, 4 July 2026 Wednesday, July 1 Health inspectors cited the Antelope Japanese restaurant after discovering that an employee didn’t wash their hands after handling/cleaning his eyeglasses before food prep. Veronica Fernandez-Alvarado july 3, Sacbee.com, 3 July 2026 The inspector noted improper food storage and marking and problems with overall cleanliness, the spokesperson said. Harriet Ramos, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 3 July 2026 Michael Marcos, a 22-year-old transport inspector from Brazil’s northeastern state of Alagoas, is among those who suffered from anxiety due to betting last year. ABC News, 3 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for inspector

Word History

First Known Use

1602, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of inspector was in 1602

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Inspector.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/inspector. Accessed 6 Jul. 2026.

Kids Definition

inspector

noun
in·​spec·​tor in-ˈspek-tər How to pronounce inspector (audio)
1
: a person who makes inspections
meat inspector
2
: a police officer ranking just below a superintendent or deputy superintendent
inspectorship 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

More from Merriam-Webster on inspector

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster