examiner
B2Formal/Neutral
Definition
Meaning
A person whose job is to assess someone's knowledge or ability by giving them a test or evaluating their work.
An official appointed to investigate the facts of a case, a set of documents, or a subject in detail; someone who inspects or scrutinises something.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Primarily denotes an official, authoritative role involving assessment or investigation. Often implies a position of power or judgement in an educational, legal, or professional context.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
In the UK, 'examiner' is strongly associated with the formal education system (e.g., GCSE, A-Level examiners). In the US, while used in education, it also frequently refers to professionals in specific fields (e.g., medical examiner, patent examiner).
Connotations
In both varieties, the word connotes authority and judgement. In British contexts, it can carry a more traditional, academic weight; in American contexts, it can suggest a more procedural or forensic aspect.
Frequency
Comparably frequent in both varieties, with slight contextual distribution differences.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
examiner of [sth.]examiner for [exam board/subject]Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “the examiner's eye (for detail)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
A patent examiner reviews new inventions to determine if they are novel and non-obvious.
Academic
The external examiner was invited to ensure the marking standards were consistent across universities.
Everyday
I was nervous as the driving examiner got into the car.
Technical
The forensic examiner analysed the digital evidence for traces of malware.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The board will examiner the proposal in depth.
- He was asked to examiner the accounts for discrepancies.
American English
- The committee will examiner the findings next week.
- She was hired to examiner the safety protocols.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The examiner asked me ten questions.
- My teacher is also an examiner.
- The driving examiner told me to turn left at the roundabout.
- All examiners must follow the same marking scheme.
- The external examiner's report highlighted several areas for improvement in the course structure.
- As a patent examiner, her job is to assess the originality of new inventions.
- The forensic examiner's testimony was crucial in reconstructing the timeline of events.
- The chief examiner moderated the marks to ensure consistency across all assessment centres.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Remember: An EXAMiner puts you through an EXAM.
Conceptual Metaphor
JUDGE IS AN EXAMINER (e.g., 'The court will examine the evidence'), AUTHORITY IS AN EXAMINER.
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid direct calque from 'экзаменатор' in contexts like 'medical examiner' (судебно-медицинский эксперт) or 'patent examiner' (эксперт по патентам). In Russian, 'экзаменатор' is almost exclusively educational; in English, it's broader.
Common Mistakes
- Confusing 'examiner' (person) with 'examination' (process/test).
- Using 'examinator' (non-standard).
- Misspelling as 'examinor'.
Practice
Quiz
In which context is 'examiner' LEAST likely to be used?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
An examiner sets, marks, or evaluates the test/exam. An invigilator (or proctor in US English) supervises the candidates during the exam to prevent cheating.
Yes, metaphorically or in technical contexts (e.g., 'The software acts as an automated examiner of code quality'), but the primary meaning refers to a person.
It is neutral-to-formal. In casual conversation about a school test, one might say 'the person who marks the test' or 'the tester', but 'examiner' is standard in official contexts.
There is no distinct female form. 'Examiner' is gender-neutral. One can specify 'woman examiner' or 'female examiner' if necessary, but it's usually redundant.