the act of examining or state of being examined written exercises, oral questions, or practical tasks, set to test a candidate's knowledge and skill (as modifier): an examination paper physical inspection of a patient or parts of his or her body, in order to verify health or diagnose disease laboratory study of secretory or excretory products, tissue samples, etc, esp in order to diagnose disease the formal interrogation of a person on oath, esp of an accused or a witness
WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026
ex•am•i•na•tion /ɪgˌzæməˈneɪʃən/USA pronunciation
n.
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026- the act or process of examining: [uncountable]picked up the object for closer examination.[countable]a complete physical examination.
- Education[countable] a test for knowledge of a subject.
ex•am•i•na•tion
(ig zam′ə nā′shən),USA pronunciation n.
ex•am′i•na′tion•al, adj.
- the act of examining;
inspection;
inquiry;
investigation. - the state of being examined.
- the act or process of testing pupils, candidates, etc., as by questions.
- the test itself;
the list of questions asked. - the answers, statements, etc., made by one examined.
- Lawformal interrogation.
- Latin exāminātiōn- (stem of exāminātiō). See examine, -ation
- Middle English examinacioun 1350–1400
- 1.See corresponding entry in Unabridged observation. Examination, inspection, scrutiny refer to a looking at something. An examination usually means a careful noting of details:A thorough examination of the plumbing revealed a defective pipe.An inspection is a formal and official examination:an inspection of records, a military inspection.Scrutiny implies a critical and minutely detailed examination:The papers seemed to be in good order, but they would not stand close scrutiny.See also investigation.
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