observation
B1Neutral to formal. Common in academic, scientific, business, and everyday contexts.
Definition
Meaning
The action or process of closely watching or monitoring someone or something, especially to gain information.
A remark, statement, or comment based on what one has noticed or perceived; the ability to notice significant details; the process of following or recording data in a scientific or clinical context.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Can refer to both the act (the observation) and the product (an observation). In scientific contexts, it implies systematic, careful watching.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in core meaning. Usage patterns are virtually identical.
Connotations
Equally neutral and professional in both dialects.
Frequency
Equally common in both UK and US English across all registers.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
observation of + NPobservation that + clauseobservation on/about + NPunder observationmake an observationVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “powers of observation”
- “under observation”
- “a keen observer”
- “make an observation”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
The sales manager's observation of customer behaviour led to a new marketing strategy.
Academic
The theory was based on careful observation of natural phenomena.
Everyday
My observation is that the bus is always late on rainy days.
Technical
The patient remained in hospital for a 24-hour observation period.
Examples
By Part of Speech
noun
British English
- Her keen observation of the birds' nesting habits was invaluable to the study.
- That's a very astute observation, Mr. Jenkins.
- The suspect was kept under police observation for 48 hours.
American English
- His observation about market trends proved to be correct.
- The study is based on direct observation of classroom interactions.
- She has a real talent for observation and detail.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The teacher wrote her observation on my report.
- My observation is that it's getting colder.
- The scientist's observation led to an important discovery.
- He made an interesting observation about the film's plot.
- Her powers of observation allowed her to notice the subtle change in his behaviour.
- The theory cannot be confirmed without further empirical observation.
- The anthropologist's participant observation within the community provided unique qualitative data.
- His initial observation that the phenomenon was cyclical was later substantiated by statistical analysis.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of an OBSERVATORY, where scientists OBSERVE the stars. OBSERVATION is what they do there.
Conceptual Metaphor
SEEING IS KNOWING (e.g., 'I see what you mean' parallels 'My observation is...'). KNOWLEDGE IS LIGHT (observations 'shed light' on a problem).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not confuse with 'observance' (соблюдение). 'Observation' is наблюдение, замечание. 'Remark' or 'comment' is often a better translation for the 'product' meaning (e.g., 'He made an observation' = Он сделал замечание).
Common Mistakes
- Using 'observance' instead of 'observation' (observance = соблюдение ритуала). Misspelling as 'obversation'. Incorrect preposition: 'observation for' instead of 'observation of'. Using it as a verb ('I observationed' is wrong; the verb is 'observe').
Practice
Quiz
Which sentence uses 'observation' correctly?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is both. As the 'act/process' (Uncountable): 'Careful observation is key.' As the 'remark/noticing' (Countable): 'She made three interesting observations.'
An 'observation' is specifically a comment based on what one has noticed or perceived. A 'remark' is any comment, which may or may not be based on careful noticing. All observations are remarks, but not all remarks are observations.
It means being watched closely and carefully, typically by medical staff (a patient), police (a suspect), or scientists (a subject in an experiment).
The verb is 'observe'. It means to watch carefully, to notice, to make a remark, or to follow a rule/custom. (e.g., 'Observe the speed limit', 'I observed a strange pattern', 'He observed that it was late').
Collections
Part of a collection
Psychology Basics
B2 · 50 words · Fundamental concepts in human psychology.
Science and Research
B2 · 43 words · Academic and scientific research methodology.
Scientific Terminology
C1 · 44 words · Precise vocabulary used in scientific disciplines.