inquisition

noun

in·​qui·​si·​tion ˌin-kwə-ˈzi-shən How to pronounce inquisition (audio)
ˌiŋ-
1
a
capitalized : a former Roman Catholic tribunal for the discovery and punishment of heresy
b
: an investigation conducted with little regard for individual rights
c
: a severe questioning
2
: a judicial or official inquiry or examination usually before a jury
also : the finding of the jury
3
: the act of inquiring : examination
inquisitional adjective

Did you know?

While an inquiry can be almost any search for truth, the related word inquisition suggests a long, thorough investigation that involves extensive and harsh questioning. Though the two words originally had about the same meaning, today inquisition tends to remind us of the Spanish Inquisition, an ongoing trial conducted by church-appointed inquisitors that began in the Middle Ages and sought out nonbelievers, Jews, and Muslims, thousands of whom were sentenced to torture and to burning at the stake.

Examples of inquisition in a Sentence

His political enemies were conducting an inquisition into the details of his personal life. there's no need to conduct an inquisition about so trivial a matter
Recent Examples on the Web The Real Housewives of New Jersey (Bravo at 8) Luis’s pizza party is an olive branch to reunite the Gorga and Giudice families; Dolores is set off by Jackie’s inquisition and her own struggling relationship. Washington Post, 15 Feb. 2022 As the top Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee, the studious Schiff became the pursed-lip face of the congressional inquisition — and a Trump target. Mark Z. Barabak, Los Angeles Times, 23 June 2023 By patient accumulation of anecdote and detail, Rustad evolves Shetler’s story into something much more human, and humanly tragic, into a layered inquisition and a reportorial force that pushes Shetler beyond his white-lib entitlement into a technicolor mystery. New York Times, 21 Jan. 2022 Stern’s inquisition went on, with the host dropping names including Eddie Van Halen and Prince, with the latter seconded by Bon Jovi’s wife, Dorothea. Gil Kaufman, Billboard, 4 May 2023 More fundamentally, resignation ends the committee’s jurisdiction, and so concludes these politically painful inquisitions. Norman Eisen, CNN, 6 Mar. 2023 The expulsion, and following inquisition — aimed at rooting out any remaining Jews and Muslims who had insincerely converted to Catholicism, resulted in terms referencing violence against Jews to enter the vernacular in Spain and the wider Spanish-speaking world. David I. Klein, Sun Sentinel, 19 Oct. 2022 Mark’s turn to face Liv’s political inquisition. Amanda Whiting, Vulture, 1 Aug. 2021 Saying that we are estranged nearly always results in some sort of lecture, judgment, or inquisition. Amy Dickinson, The Denver Post, 4 Aug. 2020

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'inquisition.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Middle English inquisicioun, from Anglo-French inquisition, from Latin inquisition-, inquisitio, from inquirere

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 3

Time Traveler
The first known use of inquisition was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near inquisition

Cite this Entry

“Inquisition.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/inquisition. Accessed 18 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

inquisition

noun
in·​qui·​si·​tion ˌin-kwə-ˈzish-ən How to pronounce inquisition (audio)
1
: the act of inquiring
2
3
a
capitalized : a former Roman Catholic court for the discovery and punishment of heresy
b
: an investigation conducted with little concern for individual rights
c
: a severe questioning
inquisitional
-ˈzish-nəl How to pronounce inquisition (audio)
-ən-ᵊl
adjective

Legal Definition

inquisition

noun
in·​qui·​si·​tion ˌin-kwə-ˈzi-shən, ˌiŋ- How to pronounce inquisition (audio)
1
: the act of inquiring or examining
2
: a judicial or official inquiry or examination usually before a jury
also : the finding that results from such an inquiry

More from Merriam-Webster on inquisition

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!