igˌzaməˈnāshən, eg- noun
( -s )
Etymology: Middle English examinacioun, from Middle French examination, from Late Latin examination-, examinatio, from Latin examinatus (past participle of examinare ) + -ion-, -io -ion
1. : the act or process of examining or state of being examined : search , investigation , scrutiny
a careful examination of the terrain showed no signs of human habitation
2. : an exercise or a series of exercises designed to examine progress or test qualification:
a. : a test given to a candidate for a certificate or a position and concerned typically with problems to be solved, skills to be demonstrated, or tasks to be performed
a civil service examination
a driver's examination
b. : an oral or written test given by a teacher to a class or an individual student to determine the amount and quality of learning over a period of time
the final examination will decide your grade for the course
college entrance examinations may be taken in April or June
3. : a formal interrogation (as of a witness in a legal action) ; also : the deposition or statements made in such an examination