Meaning and Uses of Scrutiny | Generated by AI
Question: What does “scrutiny” mean?
Answer:
Scrutiny means careful and detailed examination or close inspection of something, usually to check for mistakes, problems, accuracy, or truth.
It often carries the idea of being watched or judged very carefully, sometimes in a critical or suspicious way.
Common meanings and examples:
-
Close/critical examination
Example: “The financial records came under intense scrutiny after the scandal.”
→ People looked at them very carefully to find anything wrong. -
Careful inspection or review
Example: “All new medicines must undergo rigorous scrutiny by health authorities before approval.”
→ They are thoroughly tested and checked. -
Being watched or judged closely
Example: “Celebrities live their lives under constant public scrutiny.”
→ People are always watching and judging them.
Common phrases that use “scrutiny”:
- under scrutiny = being carefully examined or criticized
- come under scrutiny = start being closely examined
- face scrutiny = be carefully checked or judged
- intense/close/rigorous scrutiny = very detailed and strict examination
- escape scrutiny = avoid being carefully examined
Synonyms: examination, inspection, investigation, review, analysis, observation, monitoring, audit.
In everyday English, when people say “scrutiny,” they usually mean someone is looking at something very closely and critically, not just casually looking.
References:
- None needed for this basic definition