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 of inquest

• investigation
• inquiry
• examination
• exploration
• 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

The lack of rights owed to victims in particular has been repeatedly condemned by international commissions and inquests into clergy abuse that have found that the church’s judicial procedures retraumatize victims through their secrecy and opacity. — ABC News, 22 July 2026

The case is believed to be the first in England and Wales in which the results of an inquest have been overturned over the omission of social media evidence, according to The Times. — Toria Sheffield, PEOPLE, 18 July 2026

The inquest was held in response to public outcry over the controversial death, and Ramirez’s family and friends packed the Martinez courtroom. — Hema Sivanandam, Mercury News, 15 July 2026

Dr Daniel du Plessis, a neuropathology expert who examined Stiles’ brain, told the inquest there could be no dispute that repeatedly heading a ball could cause CTE. — Daniel Taylor, New York Times, 15 July 2026

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