Meaning & use
background checks
Last updated
“background checks” is a form of “background check”.
Meaning
nounplural
Official or professional investigations into a person's history, such as criminal record, past jobs, education and finances, done to decide whether they can be trusted.
Grammar: Plural form of 'background check'; the singular takes 'a': the school ran a background check.
Patterns
- run background checks on someone
- pass a background check
- background checks for something
The school requires background checks for every volunteer who works with children.
The company ran background checks on all the finalists before making an offer.
Some states want stricter background checks before a person can buy a firearm.
Word forms
| singular | background check |
|---|
Common combinations
- run background checks
- The agency runs background checks on every nanny it places.
- pass a background check
- She passed the background check and started work on Monday.
- criminal background checks
- Criminal background checks are standard for bank employees.
- require background checks
- The city requires background checks for taxi drivers.
- universal background checks
- Lawmakers debated universal background checks for gun sales.
- conduct background checks
- The landlord conducts background checks on every tenant.
Synonyms and how they differ
- screening
- Screening is a broader word that can cover tests and interviews as well as record searches, while background checks look specifically at a person's past.
- vetting
- Vetting is the usual British term and suggests a careful, often security-related examination of someone's suitability.
- reference check
- A reference check means contacting the people an applicant named, which is narrower than a full background check.
- due diligence
- Due diligence is a business term for investigating a company or deal, not usually a person's personal history.
Word family
- background noun
- a person's history, education and experience
- check verb
- to examine something to make sure it is correct or acceptable
- background check noun
- a single investigation of someone's history
- checked adjective
- having been examined or verified
Commonly confused: background checks or credit check?
background checks vs credit check
A credit check looks only at someone's borrowing and payment history, whereas background checks usually include criminal and employment records too.
Practice
The bank ran background checks on every candidate. What does this mean?
Choose one answer.
Background checks are investigations into a person's past, such as employment and criminal records. The other options describe interviews, tests or tours, which are different parts of hiring.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “background checks”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.