observation

[ ob-zur-vey-shuhn ]
/ ˌɒb zɜrˈveɪ ʃən /
SEE SYNONYMS FOR observation ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

Origin of observation

1350–1400; Middle English < Latin observātiōn- (stem of observātiō), equivalent to observāt(us) (past participle of observāre to observe) + -iōn- -ion

synonym study for observation

8. See remark.

OTHER WORDS FROM observation

non·ob·ser·va·tion, noun pre·ob·ser·va·tion, noun re·ob·ser·va·tion, noun self-ob·ser·va·tion, noun

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH observation

observance observation

Words nearby observation

obsequious, obsequy, observable, observance, observant, observation, observation car, observation post, observational, observatory, observe

Words related to observation

information, remark, review, conclusion, study, experience, research, note, perception, examination, investigation, measurement, consideration, surveillance, inspection, knowledge, view, reflection, thought, commentary

Example sentences from the Web for observation

British Dictionary definitions for observation

observation
/ (ˌɒbzəˈveɪʃən) /

noun

the act of observing or the state of being observed
a comment or remark
detailed examination of phenomena prior to analysis, diagnosis, or interpretation the patient was under observation
the facts learned from observing
an obsolete word for observance
nautical
  1. a sight taken with an instrument to determine the position of an observer relative to that of a given heavenly body
  2. the data so taken

Derived forms of observation

observational, adjective observationally, adverb