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
Allen determined during Wednesday's inquest hearing that on the night of his death, Sessions went to several bars with fellow crew members and drank beer and shots, BBC reported.
—
Sabrina Weiss, PEOPLE, 24 Oct. 2025
Speak was present at South Manchester Coroner’s Court during a brief hearing to open the inquest formally and hear about Hatton’s movements during that weekend.
—Daniel Taylor, New York Times, 16 Oct. 2025
The inquest into Hatton’s death was opened on Thursday and adjourned until March 20, 2026.
—Ben Morse, CNN Money, 16 Oct. 2025
The first two inquests in Scott’s case had each lasted a single day.
—Eren Orbey, New Yorker, 13 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for inquest
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Sabrina Weiss, PEOPLE, 24 Oct. 2025
Speak was present at South Manchester Coroner’s Court during a brief hearing to open the inquest formally and hear about Hatton’s movements during that weekend.
—Daniel Taylor, New York Times, 16 Oct. 2025
The inquest into Hatton’s death was opened on Thursday and adjourned until March 20, 2026.
—Ben Morse, CNN Money, 16 Oct. 2025
The first two inquests in Scott’s case had each lasted a single day.
—Eren Orbey, New Yorker, 13 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for inquest
Cite this Entry
“Inquest.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/inquest. Accessed 31 Oct. 2025.
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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