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

: inquiry, investigation

Synonyms

• delving
• disquisition
• examen
• examination
• exploration
• inquiry
• inquisition
• investigation
• probation
• probe
• probing
• research
• study

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

This tragedy – that claimed the lives of 30 of those on board – launched an inquest probing how the hulking 64-cannon ship met such an shameful end. —Sean Mowbray, Discover Magazine, 18 Feb. 2025

As part of the county’s investigation, the sheriff will hold coroner’s inquest where a local jury will look into the matter. —Nate Gartrell, The Mercury News, 6 Feb. 2025

The mirror was 8 feet 6 inches high and nearly 2 feet wide and weighed between 60kg to 80kg (132 lbs to 176 lbs), the inquest was told. —Escher Walcott, People.com, 4 Feb. 2025

Liam Payne’s cause of death has reportedly been confirmed by an inquest opening in his native United Kingdom. —Rachel Desantis, People.com, 8 Jan. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Anglo-French enqueste, from Vulgar Latin *inquaesta, feminine of *inquaestus, past participle of *inquaerere to inquire

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Rhymes for inquest

• abreast
• accessed
• addressed
• appressed
• armrest
• arrest
• assessed
• attest
• backrest
• behest
• bequest
• caressed

Kids 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