interrogation

noun

in·​ter·​ro·​ga·​tion in-ˌter-ə-ˈgā-shən 

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

in-ˌter-ə-ˈgā-sh(ə-)nəl 

adjective

Examples of interrogation in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The statement also disputed that the interrogation was unduly harsh. —Jessica Garrison, Los Angeles Times, 1 June 2024

Now, nearly six years later, the city of Fontana has agreed to pay a $900,000 settlement to Perez, who filed a federal lawsuit alleging that he was mistreated during the interrogation, his attorney announced, the Register reports. —Kc Baker, Peoplemag, 28 May 2024

The interrogations by police and questions from Adam’s family subside. —Emily Zebel, Longreads, 23 May 2024

Image The idea was to use those interrogations as confessions in a military trial at Guantánamo Bay. —Charlie Savage, New York Times, 16 May 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1534, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing interrogation

• interrogation point