Scrutinised

Scrutinised is the past tense and past participle of the verb scrutinise. In British English and many Commonwealth varieties, to scrutinise means to examine something in close detail, with thoroughness and careful attention, often to assess accuracy, validity, or compliance. The act of scrutinising implies a meticulous and systematic review, sometimes with an element of skepticism.

The word derives from the French scruter, ultimately from Latin scrutari “to rummage” or “to search.” The noun scrutiny shares the same root and refers to a close and critical inspection.

Spelling and related forms vary by dialect: British English uses scrutinised and scrutinising, while American English uses scrutinized and scrutinizing. The present participle forms in British English are scrutinising and in American English scrutinizing.

In usage, scrutinised is common in journalism, politics, auditing, science, law, and general reporting when authorities, committees, editors, or researchers examine evidence or statements. Phrases such as “under scrutiny,” “subject to public scrutiny,” and “scrutinise motives” are widely used. The term conveys a sense of rigorous evaluation rather than casual observation, and its tone can imply scrutiny, accountability, or suspicion depending on context.