quality-control
UK[ˈkwɒlɪti kənˌtrəʊl]US[ˈkwɑːləti kənˌtroʊl]
n
The activity of checking goods as they are produced to make sure their quality is acceptable.
v
To check goods as they are produced to make sure their quality is acceptable.
Morpheme Breakdown
quality
control
quality
noun
control
noun/verb
Etymology
The compound term 'quality-control' is a modern industrial formation, combining two established English words to describe a specific process. 'Quality' originates from the Latin qualis, meaning "of what kind," which evolved to signify the distinctive attributes or standard of something. 'Control' has a more administrative origin, stemming from the Medieval Latin practice of keeping a duplicate register (contrarotulus) to verify accounts, leading to its modern sense of regulation and verification. The fusion of these concepts in the early 20th century logically created a term for the systematic process of maintaining product standards through inspection and testing, reflecting the rise of standardized manufacturing.
Analysis
Structure: quality (noun) + control (noun/verb)
- quality: From Latin qualitas (nature, property, condition), from qualis (of what kind). Functions as a noun root denoting a characteristic or standard.
- control: From Anglo-French contreroller, from Medieval Latin contrarotulare (to check by duplicate register), from contra- (against) + rotulus (roll, list). Functions as a noun/verb root denoting the power to direct or restrain.
Examples
The factory has strict quality-control procedures to ensure every product is safe.
All components must be quality-controlled before assembly.
Effective quality-control can significantly reduce customer complaints and returns.