1.1mass nounThe action or process of conducting an examination.
‘the role of the planning system has come under increasing critical examination’
‘How we are to know that it is good for us without thorough examination through parliamentary processes is not explained.’
‘But the allegations about his conduct crumble on examination, he says.’
‘It calls for renewed examination of the processes whereby those families have been divided in the first place.’
‘He himself subjects his work to a rigorous process of examination and re-examination.’
‘Ordinary critical examination of sources, indeed, any effort to discover the truth, was regarded as a serious moral lapse.’
‘It is wonderful to see a mind that is so exquisitely attuned to critical examination at work in the moment, the moment of his own life.’
‘Soft modernity implies philosophical issues and critical examination of traditional beliefs.’
‘Second Thoughts, without any critical examination of the information he peddled as fact.’
‘No intellectual development, no critical examination of the tenets of their faith.’
‘These should be served before any examination for discovery is conducted.’
‘Most impressive was the solid critical examination the exhibit gave to issues of race and gender.’
‘The SWP are indifferent to any critical historical examination of the role played by the trade unions.’
‘At the very least, psychoanalysis deserves informed critical examination rather than simple dismissal.’
‘Finally, I think it necessary to open up to critical examination all of what we call Zen.’
‘All of them hope to discourage any critical examination of the real causes of the current situation.’
‘His study, conducted over five years of intensive examination, reveal that the toad will be extinct within two years.’
‘It was found on fire around two hours later at Coalpit Lane, Denaby, and has since been recovered by police for forensic examination.’
‘His van has also been sent to a police laboratory for examination.’
‘The cathedral there fascinated him and was the object of his deepest study and examination.’
‘All were released on police bail while forensic examination of substances found takes place.’
2A formal test of a person's knowledge or proficiency in a subject or skill.
‘he scraped through the examinations at the end of his first year’
‘You and your child will be faced with plenty of tests and formal examinations in the years to come.’
‘The objective tests in the entrance examinations hardly speak of the candidate's knowledge, aptitude and attitude.’
‘The winner is selected on the marks achieved in written, practical and oral examinations along with project work.’
‘Various skills of the student are tested in an entrance examination.’
‘The authority also decided not to offer examinations in eight subjects from 2007 because of a decreasing number of candidates.’
‘Although most of the people discussing this topic were not of the age to sit Proficiency we had examinations each term and took them seriously.’
‘Within an IB Program students are required to complete and take examinations in six IB subjects.’
‘I did some extra subjects, I think I did nine subjects in the leaving examination and got a few credits.’
‘The fact remains that young people face a battery of examinations and tests.’
‘It means they are on their own on the final hurdle of a seemingly endless slog of course work, mock examinations, orals, practicals and revision which began in year nine.’
‘By the time they have cleared the school examinations, professional entrance tests are upon them, catching them unawares.’
‘Results in national tests and examinations in the last three years were found to be below average.’
‘She said she could not wait for the November examination because the test paper would be based on a new syllabus.’
‘Others are choosing to demonstrate competency by completing the proficiency examinations in one or more of these areas.’
‘Many of these observations deserve to be, and have been, the subject of book-length examinations.’
‘They had the effect of determining at what level students would be entered for 16 + public examinations and in what subjects.’
‘They are so well-tutored, so disciplined, that they almost relish such examinations of skill and character.’
‘Fresh from residency in a community based hospital, I felt as if these figures from medical school clinical examinations had come back to haunt me.’
‘Almost all the universities in the State have a calendar for the conduct of examination.’
‘MacCullagh entered for the highly competitive fellowship examination, conducted orally in Latin.’
3Law The formal questioning of a defendant or witness in court.
‘At the Inquest examination of witnesses will bring out more evidence and detail.’
‘Generally speaking, judges have broad powers in directing the examination of witnesses.’
‘He has the same powers as the court in respect of the attendance and the examination of witnesses and the production of documents.’
‘There followed a prolonged sensation in court, which interrupted the examination of the witness.’
‘In the present case each of the letters of request contains an express statement as to the purpose for which the examination of the witness is sought.’
‘His subsequent examination of the witness statements of family and friends do not cause him to alter this view.’
‘Mr. Sammon submits that the party conducting an examination of the witness has an obligation to be fair to the witness.’
‘The defence could have enforced an examination of that person by resorting to the Rules of Procedure.’
‘Yes, and a whole lot of examinations before liquidators in current proceedings in the Supreme Court by ACT against directors.’
‘Many of the undertakings given on the Plaintiffs' examinations for discovery are still outstanding.’
‘Mr Baer's first report was prepared as a result of his examination of the claimant on 19th April 1996.’
‘The defendant brought a motion to compel the attendance of the plaintiff at an examination for discovery.’
‘In other words, are there any constraints to apply to the examination of the complainant in the later case.’
‘Jacob couldn't even listen to the examination of the prosecution's next witness.’
‘A party has inherent right to be present at the examination for discovery of the opposite party.’
‘During the examination of witnesses, each of the Counsel had, at times, to put questions to the witnesses.’
‘He will suffer great expense if required to attend here for examinations, pre-trial and trial.’
‘It is evidence that is a result of an examination occurring after trial.’
‘For example, the trial system demands examination and cross-examination of witnesses.’
‘The plaintiffs have never conducted examinations for discovery.’
Late Middle English (also in the sense ‘testing (one's conscience) by a standard’): via Old French from Latin examinatio(n-), from examinare ‘weigh, test’ (see examine).
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