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

In January 2025, the Contra Costa Police Chiefs Association updated its investigation procedures under the Law Enforcement Involved Fatal Incidents Protocol, doing away with a coroner’s inquest. —Hema Sivanandam, Mercury News, 1 Feb. 2026

The combination of the drugs and the heart condition likely contributed to Green’s death, the inquest heard. —Abigail Adams, PEOPLE, 28 Jan. 2026

The captain of the Enterprise told the inquest that his vessel traveled downriver at its normal speed. —Don Sweeney, Sacbee.com, 27 Jan. 2026

Headway, the brain injury association based in the UK, is calling for further action following McQueen’s inquest. —Philip Buckingham, New York Times, 26 Jan. 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