Intense study of someone or something. / Thorough inspection of a situation or a case. / An examination of catechumens, in the last week of Lent, who were to receive baptism on Easter Day.

(obsolete, rare) To scrutinize.

present participle of scrutiny

simple past tense and past participle of scrutiny

plural of scrutiny

(law) A standard for judicial review, according to which a law must have been enacted to further a compelling governmental interest, have been narrowly tailored to achieve that interest, and be the least restrictive means for so doing.

(Christianity) In electing a pope, the phase following scrutiny of the votes, during which the ballots are checked for errors and then burned.

(Christianity) In electing a pope, the phase before scrutiny, during which ballot papers are prepared and scrutineers are selected.

(law) A standard for judicial review, according to which a law must have been enacted to further a compelling governmental interest and have been narrowly tailored to achieve that interest.

(mineralogy) An orthorhombic-dipyramidal dark reddish brown mineral containing lead and oxygen.