Definition

Noun: A routine and thorough medical examination performed by a doctor or other healthcare professional to assess a person's general health, identify potential issues, and update medical records. It typically includes a variety of tests and evaluations tailored to the individual's age, sex, and health status.

Usage

The word "checkup" is used to refer to a scheduled, preventive health assessment. It is a compound noun formed from the verb phrase "check up." It is commonly used in both medical and informal contexts.

Examples

• I go to my doctor for an annual checkup.
• The pediatrician recommended a checkup for the child before starting school.
• After his illness, he needed a follow-up checkup to ensure a full recovery.
• She scheduled a dental checkup for next Tuesday.

Advanced Usage

• "Wellness checkup": A term increasingly used to emphasize the preventive and health-promoting aspect of the examination, rather than focusing on illness.
  • Many insurance plans now cover an annual wellness checkup.
• The concept can be extended metaphorically to non-medical contexts for a general review or assessment.
  • The manager gave the project a quick checkup to see if it was on schedule. (Note: This is a metaphorical extension; the core meaning remains medical.)

Variants and Related Words

• Check-up: An alternative spelling with a hyphen.
• Medical checkup: A more formal variant specifying the type of examination.
• Physical examination / Physical: More formal synonyms for a medical checkup.
• Examination (Exam): A broader term that can refer to any detailed inspection, including medical ones.

Synonyms

• Medical examination
• Health assessment
• Physical (informal)
• Medical

Antonyms

• Emergency visit
• Unscheduled appointment (for a specific illness or injury)

Related Phrases

• To have a checkup: The common verb phrase used with this noun.
  • You should have a checkup at least once a year.
• To go for a checkup: Another common way to express the action.
  • He is going for a checkup this afternoon.

Noun

1. a thorough physical examination; includes a variety of tests depending on the age and sex and health of the person