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 inquest will centre on Beccacece, but there are personnel issues. — Felipe Cardenas, New York Times, 21 June 2026

The inquest has not yet occurred in this case, so the investigation remains ongoing. — Joseph States, Chicago Tribune, 19 June 2026

Beginning on June 15, a Coroner's Court inquest in Melbourne, Australia, has heard from medical professionals, the 12-minute emergency services call from the day of Warnecke's death and the testimony of Warnecke's doula, Emily Lal, to determine a definitive story surrounding Warnecke's death. — Luke Chinman, PEOPLE, 18 June 2026

The Contra Costa County Sheriff's Office said on Wednesday that Sheriff-Coroner David Livingston would hold a coroner's inquest into the death of Yolanda Ramirez, who died in October 2025 several days after being arrested. — Carlos E. Castañeda, CBS News, 7 May 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