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Language Foundation

Background check

A background check is an investigation of a job applicant’s past, especially their criminal, employment, and education records, done before a final hiring decision is made.

In plain English

It is a review of a person's past to check important parts of their history. It focuses especially on criminal, work, and education records. This is done before the employer makes the final hiring decision.

In context

Here, “background check” names the stage before the final hiring decision when the employer investigates the applicant’s past records.

Situation
Applying for jobs, reading vacancy labels, and following recruitment status
What it communicates
names the step where the employer checks background information.

Meaning limits

The term by itself does not say what the investigation will find or whether the applicant will be hired.

Examples

“The company began a background check on the applicant's work and education records before making a final hiring decision.”

Core meaning

“A final hiring decision was delayed while the background check was still underway.”

In context

  • pre-employment screening Broader Term

    A background check can be one part of pre-employment screening.

  • criminal background check Narrower Term

    This is a more specific kind of background check that focuses on criminal records.