inquest
noun
in·quest
ˈin-ˌkwest 
1
a
: a judicial or official inquiry or examination especially before a jury
a coroner's inquest
b
: a body of people (such as a jury) assembled to hold such an inquiry
c
: the finding of the jury upon such inquiry or the document recording it
2
Synonyms
Examples of inquest in a Sentence
The court has ordered an inquest into his death.
the police conducted an inquest into the case
Recent Examples on the Web
An inquest concluded that Diana and Dodi died because of the reckless actions of their driver — an employee of the Ritz Hotel in Paris owned by Al Fayed — and paparazzi chasing the couple.
—
Jill Lawless, Los Angeles Times, 26 Sep. 2024
An inquest in the U.K. has heard Kaicy Brown was found unresponsive alongside his grandfather David Brown, according to news reports
Comments
A 12-year-old boy and his grandfather were found dead next to each other in a tent during a camping trip, according to reports.
—Kirsty Hatcher, People.com, 27 Sep. 2024
The inquest heard that when Gibson went to hospital with his symptoms, an electrocardiogram (ECG) was carried out.
—Becca Longmire, Peoplemag, 5 June 2024
An inquest overseen by an apartheid judge determined that Timol had committed suicide by jumping from a window.
—Sisonke Msimang, Foreign Affairs, 12 Dec. 2017
See all Example Sentences for inquest 
Jill Lawless, Los Angeles Times, 26 Sep. 2024
An inquest in the U.K. has heard Kaicy Brown was found unresponsive alongside his grandfather David Brown, according to news reports
Comments
A 12-year-old boy and his grandfather were found dead next to each other in a tent during a camping trip, according to reports.
—Kirsty Hatcher, People.com, 27 Sep. 2024
The inquest heard that when Gibson went to hospital with his symptoms, an electrocardiogram (ECG) was carried out.
—Becca Longmire, Peoplemag, 5 June 2024
An inquest overseen by an apartheid judge determined that Timol had committed suicide by jumping from a window.
—Sisonke Msimang, Foreign Affairs, 12 Dec. 2017
See all Example Sentences for inquest
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'inquest.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near inquest
Cite this Entry
“Inquest.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/inquest. Accessed 30 Oct. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
inquest
noun
in·quest
ˈin-ˌkwest
: a judicial or official investigation
Medical Definition
inquest
noun
in·quest
ˈin-ˌkwest
: a judicial or official inquiry especially before a jury to determine the cause of a violent or unexpected death
a coroner's inquest
Legal Definition
inquest
noun
in·quest
ˈin-ˌkwest
1
: a judicial or official inquiry or examination often before a jury
a coroner's inquest
compare trial
2
: a body of people (as a jury) assembled to hold a judicial or official inquiry
also
: the finding of such an inquiry or the document recording it
Etymology
Anglo-French enqueste, from Old French, ultimately from Latin inquirere to ask about, from in- within, into + quaerere to seek
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