What does observation mean?
Observation is the process of watching, noticing, and describing something, as well as the fact or conclusion that results from doing so. In ordinary conversation, it can refer to a perceptive comment: someone might make an observation about a colleague's changed mood. In scientific and technical contexts, an observation is more specific, meaning a recorded measurement, appearance, or result obtained through careful study. The word therefore suggests both the act of attention and the knowledge produced by it. Observation can be deliberate and systematic, as in laboratory research, or incidental, as in a brief impression formed while watching a street scene. Its usefulness lies in connecting attention with evidence: to observe is to notice, and to record an observation is to preserve what has been noticed. The related verb is observe, while observant describes a person who notices details quickly and well.
nounThe act of watching or noticing something carefully, or a fact or comment based on what has been noticed. In scientific and technical contexts, an observation is a recorded measurement or result obtained by examining something.
- The act of watching or noticing something carefully.
- A fact, remark, or comment based on something noticed.
- A recorded measurement or result in scientific or technical study.
"Her careful observation of the garden revealed several birds nesting in the hedges."
"The researcher documented her observations of the animals' behaviour."
"His observation that the market was unusually quiet helped them understand why sales had fallen."
The plural is used for separate acts of watching, recorded findings, or comments based on what has been noticed.
"The teacher wrote down her observations about the students' progress."
From the Latin for watching closely to the scientific method, observation is the quiet engine behind most discoveries.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does observation come from?
The word derives from Latin observatio, a noun formed from observare, meaning 'to watch, notice, or obey.' Observare was built from ob- ('toward') and servare ('to keep'), while the related English word observance reflects the older sense of respectfully keeping or observing a practice. The noun entered Middle English through French observation and was used for both the act of noticing and something that had been noticed.
Related word forms
How observation is actually used
The word is neutral to formal in tone. In scientific and technical writing, it often refers specifically to data or a measured result; in everyday use, it may refer simply to an attentive look or a perceptive remark.
Easily confused with observation
Observation is the act of watching or noticing something, whereas observance is the practice of respecting a law, custom, or religious commitment.