interrogation

noun

in·​ter·​ro·​ga·​tion in-ˌter-ə-ˈgā-shən How to pronounce interrogation (audio)
plural interrogations
: the act of interrogating someone or something: such as
a
: a formal and systematic questioning
She conducted a skillful interrogation of the witness.
It was old-fashioned interrogation and eavesdropping that first led U.S. intelligence agents to the … plotters.Michael Isikoff
And during interrogation, instead of just listening for inconsistencies in what is said, agents are being taught to look for minute physical reactions on the faces of people being questioned.Ann Davis et al.
b
: the sending of an electronic signal intended to trigger a particular response from something (such as a transponder)
The airborne equipment measures the time between the interrogation and the return signal, and converts this time measurement into a mileage reading on our instrument panel, on either a dial or digital counter.Joseph W. Benkert
interrogational adjective

Examples of interrogation in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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He has been taken to the police station for interrogation multiple times, his parents said in a statement. Chris Boyette, CNN, 17 Mar. 2025 The first episode focuses on Jamie’s arrest, from the cops’ sudden, early-morning arrival in his home to a climactic interrogation scene. Ben Travers, IndieWire, 13 Mar. 2025 Attorney Jon Loevy said Fulton spent more than 100 hours being interrogated, at age 18, and Mitchell more than 40 hours under interrogation, at age 17, and were coerced into false confessions that evidence didn’t support. Sam Charles, Chicago Tribune, 10 Mar. 2025 In the first episode, the camera follows the raid, the journey to the (thankfully) nearby police precinct and the earliest interrogations, as audiences and the Miller family learn the nature of the accusation against Jamie, who consistently protests his innocence. Daniel Fienberg, The Hollywood Reporter, 6 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for interrogation

Word History

First Known Use

1534, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of interrogation was in 1534

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Cite this Entry

“Interrogation.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/interrogation. Accessed 25 Mar. 2025.

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