interrogation
ihn-tehr-uh-GAY-shuhn
Interrogation (noun) means the process of questioning someone closely, especially by police or authorities. Example: “The interrogation lasted three hours before he admitted to the theft.”
noun
1
The process of questioning someone closely, especially by police or authorities.
"The interrogation lasted three hours before he admitted to the theft."
"The suspect asked for a lawyer before the interrogation began."
"Hours of interrogation left the witness exhausted and confused."
2
A question mark.
"The sentence ended with a mark of interrogation instead of a full stop."
"Spanish writing places an inverted interrogation at the start of each question."
"The typist put an interrogation after the final word of the sentence."
How to use interrogation
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishFormal or intense questioning, or, less commonly, a question mark.
Common pairings
under interrogation
police interrogation
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Word forms
- Plural
- interrogations
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The _____ lasted three hours before he admitted to the theft.
Etymology
From Latin interrogatio, from interrogare, "to ask or inquire."
Synonyms
View more →
cross-examination
grilling
inquisition
questioning
interrogative
query
enquiry
interrogatory
question
inquiry
examination
Related words
Rhymes for interrogation
region
ablation
allusion
emulsion
ideation
novation
diffusion
elocution
extension
oxidation
perfusion
selection
See all rhymes for interrogation →
Frequently asked questions
What does “interrogation” mean?
The word “interrogation” means the process of questioning someone closely, especially by police or authorities. In plain terms, formal or intense questioning, or, less commonly, a question mark.
How do you pronounce “interrogation”?
“Interrogation” is pronounced ihn-tehr-uh-GAY-shuhn (/ɪnˌteɹ.əˈɡeɪ.ʃən/ in IPA).
How do you use “interrogation” in a sentence?
Here is “interrogation” used in a sentence: “The interrogation lasted three hours before he admitted to the theft.”
What part of speech is “interrogation”?
“Interrogation” is a noun.
Where does the word “interrogation” come from?
The word “interrogation” comes from Latin. From Latin interrogatio, from interrogare, "to ask or inquire.".
Is “interrogation” a common word?
“Interrogation” is an uncommon word in modern English, usually learned at around the C2 level.
How many meanings does “interrogation” have?
“Interrogation” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: the process of questioning someone closely, especially by police or authorities.
What is the difference between an interrogation and an interview?
An interrogation involves questioning someone closely, especially by police or authorities, often in a formal or adversarial setting aimed at extracting information or a confession. An interview is a more neutral term for a conversation involving questions and answers, used in contexts like job hiring or journalism, without the confrontational tone interrogation usually implies.
What does interrogation mean besides police questioning?
Interrogation can also refer to a question mark, sometimes called a point of interrogation, reflecting the word's root connection to asking questions. This sense is less common in everyday speech but appears in some formal or older writing about punctuation.
Is interrogation always associated with law enforcement?
While interrogation is most strongly associated with police or authorities questioning suspects, the underlying meaning of close, probing questioning can extend to other high-pressure situations, such as a strict cross-examination in a courtroom. It generally implies a more intense and formal process than a casual conversation.
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