inquest

noun

in·​quest ˈin-ˌkwest How to pronounce inquest (audio)
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

Example Sentences

The court has ordered an inquest into his death. the police conducted an inquest into the case
Recent Examples on the Web Middlesex District Attorney Marian T. Ryan confirmed Thursday that an official inquest is underway into the Cambridge police killing last month of a UMass Boston student. Ivy Scott, BostonGlobe.com, 23 Feb. 2023 Oversights in the system, and Jennifer and Sarah, are to blame for the tragic deaths, Sheriff Allman said after the inquest. Kc Baker, Peoplemag, 29 Mar. 2023 The inquest also highlighted differences between how transparent the two platforms were willing to be. WIRED, 6 Oct. 2022 Lizzie may have given police that answer during the inquest. Erin Moriarty, CBS News, 31 July 2021 So there is an inquest. Bill Goodykoontz, Detroit Free Press, 16 Jan. 2021 In Contra Costa County, Sheriff-Coroner David Livingston holds coroner’s inquests asking juries to determine whether deaths involving law enforcement are due to one of four causes: accident, suicide, natural causes or the actions of another person — more commonly known as homicide. Joshua Sharpe, San Francisco Chronicle, 16 Mar. 2023 Two sailing companions of Senator Edward M. Kennedy who were present at the 7/18/1969 party on Chappaquiddick Island—Raymond Larosa (R) and Charles Tretter (L), leave Dukes County Court House after first day of inquest into the death of Mary Jo Kopechne. Time, 29 Oct. 2022 An inquest found that there were no skid marks on the cliff where the Harts’ SUV went flying — and that the Harts had dosed the children, who ranged in age from 12 to 19, and themselves with extraordinary amounts of Benadryl. Robert Kolker, Washington Post, 10 Mar. 2023 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'inquest.' 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, 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

Time Traveler
The first known use of inquest was in the 13th century

Dictionary Entries Near inquest

Cite this Entry

“Inquest.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/inquest. Accessed 7 Jun. 2023.

Kids Definition

inquest

noun
in·​quest ˈin-ˌkwest How to pronounce inquest (audio)
: a judicial or official investigation

Medical Definition

inquest

noun
in·​quest ˈin-ˌkwest How to pronounce inquest (audio)
: 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 How to pronounce inquest (audio)
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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