# scrutiny

> English word · Noun · IPA /ˈskɹuː.tɪ.ni/ · frequency rank #10,607

## Definitions
1. Intense study of someone or something.
2. Thorough inspection of a situation or a case.
3. An examination of catechumens, in the last week of Lent, who were to receive baptism on Easter Day.
4. A ticket, or little paper billet, on which a vote is written.
5. An examination by a committee of the votes given at an election, for the purpose of correcting the poll.

## Etymology
From Middle English scrutiny, from Medieval Latin scrūtinium (“a search, an inquiry”), from Vulgar Latin scrūtor (“to search or examine thoroughly”), from Late Latin scrūta (“rubbish, broken trash”), from an extension of Proto-Indo-European *(s)ker- (“to cut”).

## Easily confused with
- **scouting** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/scouting-vs-scrutiny)

## Common misspellings (13)
`csrutiny`, `sccrutiny`, `scrrutiny`, `scrtuiny`, `scruitny`, `scrutinny`, `scrutinyy`, `scrutiyn`, `scrutniy`, `scruttiny`, `scurtiny`, `srcutiny`, `sscrutiny`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/scrutiny