strip search: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C2Formal / Official / Legal
Quick answer
What does “strip search” mean?
A security procedure where a person is required to remove most or all of their clothing to be examined for concealed items.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A security procedure where a person is required to remove most or all of their clothing to be examined for concealed items.
A thorough, often intrusive search; metaphorically, any detailed scrutiny or examination of something.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant lexical differences, though legal thresholds and procedures may vary by jurisdiction. The phrase is used identically.
Connotations
Identical high-stakes, serious connotations in both varieties.
Frequency
Comparable frequency in legal, security, and news contexts in both varieties.
Grammar
How to Use “strip search” in a Sentence
[Agent] + strip-searched + [Patient][Patient] + was strip-searched + (by [Agent])[Institution] + carries out + a strip search + on [Patient]Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “strip search” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The officers were authorised to strip-search the suspect.
- Prisoners may be strip-searched upon entry to the facility.
American English
- Customs agents can strip-search anyone they have reasonable suspicion about.
- The detainee was strip-searched in a private room.
adverb
British English
- Not applicable as an adverb.
American English
- Not applicable as an adverb.
adjective
British English
- The strip-search procedure was documented on CCTV.
- He filed a complaint about the strip-search policy.
American English
- The strip-search protocol requires a witness of the same gender.
- A strip-search order must be justified.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Virtually unused except in extreme HR/security incident reports.
Academic
Used in criminology, law, sociology, and human rights literature.
Everyday
Used in news reports and discussions about police/airport security procedures. Not typical in casual conversation.
Technical
Standard term in legal, law enforcement, corrections, and border security terminology.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “strip search”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “strip search”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “strip search”
- Confusing 'strip search' with a simple 'pat-down'. Using it casually for any search. Spelling as one word 'stripsearch' (less common).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is legal only under specific, legally defined circumstances, such as reasonable suspicion in a custodial setting, and is subject to strict protocols to minimise degradation.
Refusal is possible, but may carry legal consequences, such as being denied entry to a secure facility, arrest, or having the refusal used as evidence of suspicion. Legal advice should be sought.
A strip search involves visual inspection of the unclothed body. A cavity search is more intrusive, involving examination of body cavities, and requires a higher level of legal justification.
Standard protocol usually requires at least one witness of the same gender as the person being searched, and the search should be conducted in as private a manner as the situation allows.
A security procedure where a person is required to remove most or all of their clothing to be examined for concealed items.
Strip search is usually formal / official / legal in register.
Strip search: in British English it is pronounced /ˈstrɪp ˌsɜːtʃ/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈstrɪp ˌsɜːrtʃ/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “None directly associated”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a STRIP of land being SEARCHED inch by inch. Now apply that to a person removing clothing (stripping) to be searched completely.
Conceptual Metaphor
SCRUTINY IS EXPOSURE; INVASIVENESS IS UNDRESSING.
Practice
Quiz
What is the most critical factor distinguishing a 'strip search' from a standard search?