Verb C1 — Advanced /ˈskruːtɪnaɪz/

Scrutinise — English Word Meaning, Examples & Pronunciation

To examine or inspect closely and thoroughly — looking at every detail with a critical, careful eye.

Quick Definition

To scrutinise means to examine or inspect something closely and thoroughly, paying careful attention to every detail — often with the aim of finding errors, problems, or hidden information.

Example: "The committee scrutinised the budget line by line before approving the final figure."

What Does Scrutinise Mean?

Scrutinise comes from Latin scrutinium, meaning a search or examination, derived from scrutari (to search carefully) — originally related to sorting through rubbish to find valuables. In modern English, it means to examine something with great care and attention, especially with a critical eye. It is not a casual look; it is a deliberate, thorough inspection.

The word is most at home in formal and academic contexts: financial audits, legal proceedings, political journalism, scientific peer review, and academic writing. When something is scrutinised, the expectation is that no detail will be overlooked. The related noun is scrutiny ("under scrutiny", "face scrutiny"), and the person who scrutinises — particularly in an electoral context — is a scrutineer.

A common ESL pitfall is using scrutinise for any kind of "looking". Scrutinise is specifically intensive and critical. You would not scrutinise a menu; you would scrutinise a contract, a piece of evidence, or a policy document. The American English spelling is scrutinize (with a z) — both forms are accepted in international English.

Example Sentences

SentenceContext / Note
Investors will scrutinise the company's quarterly results before deciding whether to buy shares.financial / business context
The scientist scrutinised the data for any sign of anomalies that might invalidate the results.academic / scientific context
She felt uncomfortable as the interviewer scrutinised her CV in silence for almost a minute.everyday / personal context
Parliament must scrutinise new legislation carefully before it becomes law.political / legal context
The detective scrutinised the crime scene photograph, searching for any detail the team had missed.narrative / literary context

Word Family

Verb
scrutinise
"They scrutinised every clause."
Noun
scrutiny
"The plan came under scrutiny."
Noun (person)
scrutineer
"The scrutineers checked the ballot papers."
No adjective form
—
Say: "under close scrutiny" or "thorough examination".

Synonyms & Antonyms

Synonyms

  • examine — to look at carefully (broader, more neutral)
  • inspect — to look at officially or formally
  • analyse — to study in detail by breaking down components
  • study — to look at attentively over time
  • investigate — to examine in order to find out the truth

Antonyms

  • ignore — to pay no attention to
  • overlook — to fail to notice or to deliberately disregard
  • skim — to read or look at superficially
  • neglect — to fail to give proper attention to

Related Words

analyse investigate examine assess meticulous All Words →

Practise This Word

Ready to make scrutinise stick? Try these free LexFizz exercises — no sign-up required.

Flash Cards Complete the Sentence Vocabulary Quiz Hangman

Frequently Asked Questions about “scrutinise”

What does scrutinise mean in English?
Scrutinise means to examine or inspect something very closely and carefully, often looking for errors, hidden details, or potential problems. It implies a thorough, critical look rather than a quick glance. Example: 'The auditors scrutinised every line of the company accounts before signing off.' It is commonly used in academic, legal, financial, and journalistic contexts.
How do you pronounce scrutinise?
Scrutinise is pronounced /ˈskruːtɪnaɪz/. It has four syllables: SCRU-ti-nise. The stress falls on the first syllable: SCRU. Break it down slowly: SKROO... ti... nize. The final syllable rhymes with 'rise' or 'eyes'. A common mistake is to stress the second syllable — keep it on SCRU.
What is the noun form of scrutinise?
The noun form is scrutiny (/ˈskruːtɪni/): 'The proposal came under intense scrutiny.' Scrutiny refers to the act or process of scrutinising — the close, critical examination itself. Common phrases: 'under scrutiny', 'face scrutiny', 'public scrutiny', 'withstand scrutiny'. The noun scrutineer refers to a person who scrutinises, especially in an electoral context.
What is the difference between scrutinise and examine?
Both mean to look at something carefully, but scrutinise implies a more rigorous and critical inspection — often with the intention of finding faults, inconsistencies, or hidden details. Examine is broader and more neutral: a doctor examines a patient; an editor scrutinises a manuscript for errors. Scrutinise suggests intensity and a higher level of critical attention.
What is the American English spelling of scrutinise?
The American English spelling is scrutinize (with a z). British English uses scrutinise (with an s). Both spellings are correct — the difference is purely regional. The same pattern applies to other -ise/-ize verbs: organise/organize, recognise/recognize, analyse/analyze. LexFizz uses British English spellings throughout.
What are common collocations with scrutinise?
Common collocations with scrutinise include: scrutinise carefully, scrutinise closely, scrutinise in detail, scrutinise a document / a contract / the evidence / the data / spending / the accounts. The noun form collocates strongly: come under scrutiny, face scrutiny, withstand scrutiny, public scrutiny, intense scrutiny, close scrutiny, critical scrutiny.
Is scrutinise a formal word?
Yes, scrutinise is a formal or semi-formal word. It is common in academic writing, journalism, legal language, financial reporting, and official contexts. In informal speech, you would more likely say 'look at closely', 'go over carefully', or simply 'check'. Using scrutinise in a conversation would sound slightly elevated or professional, which is appropriate at C1 level.
What is the CEFR level of scrutinise?
Scrutinise is a C1 (Advanced) level word. It appears in formal and academic texts and is expected knowledge for learners preparing for IELTS Academic, Cambridge C1 Advanced (CAE), or C2 Proficiency. Lower-level learners would more likely use inspect, examine, or check, which convey a similar idea with simpler vocabulary.
What are antonyms of scrutinise?
Antonyms of scrutinise include: ignore (to pay no attention), overlook (to fail to notice or deliberately pass over), glance at (to look briefly without detail), skim (to read or look superficially), and neglect (to fail to give proper attention). If you scrutinise something, you are doing the opposite of looking at it casually or ignoring it.
How can I practise the word scrutinise on LexFizz?
Use LexFizz's Flash Cards to practise scrutinise alongside related C1 words like analyse, investigate, and assess. The Complete the Sentence exercise places scrutinise in realistic academic and professional contexts. The Vocabulary Quiz tests your understanding of the word in use. Try writing one sentence using the verb form and one using the noun form (scrutiny) to consolidate both.