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
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
The Contra Costa District Attorney’s Office has directed the Sheriff’s Office to conduct a coroner’s inquest into Ramirez’s death in October 2025, according to Brentwood officials.
—
Hema Sivanandam, Mercury News, 24 Apr. 2026
Assistant coroner Naomi McLoughlin concluded that Haines died from diabetic ketoacidosis linked to undiagnosed type 1 diabetes, the inquest heard.
—Vanessa Etienne, PEOPLE, 22 Apr. 2026
Though the official inquest failed to determine whether Zac jumped to escape danger or to kill himself, The New Yorker’s Keefe winds up blaming the death on the corruption of London in recent decades by oligarchs, con men, and international criminals.
—The Week Us, TheWeek, 21 Apr. 2026
Since that day, Alastair and Naomi have dedicated themselves to finding out exactly what happened and making sure all the available evidence was brought to their son’s inquest, turning what would initially have been a four-hour hearing at West London Coroner’s Court into one that lasted six days.
—Daniel Taylor, New York Times, 31 Mar. 2026
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Hema Sivanandam, Mercury News, 24 Apr. 2026
Assistant coroner Naomi McLoughlin concluded that Haines died from diabetic ketoacidosis linked to undiagnosed type 1 diabetes, the inquest heard.
—Vanessa Etienne, PEOPLE, 22 Apr. 2026
Though the official inquest failed to determine whether Zac jumped to escape danger or to kill himself, The New Yorker’s Keefe winds up blaming the death on the corruption of London in recent decades by oligarchs, con men, and international criminals.
—The Week Us, TheWeek, 21 Apr. 2026
Since that day, Alastair and Naomi have dedicated themselves to finding out exactly what happened and making sure all the available evidence was brought to their son’s inquest, turning what would initially have been a four-hour hearing at West London Coroner’s Court into one that lasted six days.
—Daniel Taylor, New York Times, 31 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for inquest
Cite this Entry
“Inquest.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/inquest. Accessed 27 Apr. 2026.
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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