inquiry

noun in·qui·ry \ in-ˈkwī(-ə)r-ē , ˈin-ˌ ; ˈin-kwə-rē , ˈiŋ- ; ˈin-ˌkwir-ē \

Updated on: 19 Apr 2018

plural inquiries

1 : examination into facts or principles : research

2 : a request for information

3 : a systematic investigation often of a matter of public interest

See inquiry defined for English-language learners

See inquiry defined for kids

Examples of inquiry in a Sentence

Discovered when Galileo Galilei turned the first astronomical telescope to the heavens in 1610, the Jovian system has been a focus of scientific inquiry ever since. —Chad Galts, Brown Alumni Monthly, November 1996
… his head was tilted at the precise angle of inquiry as to where he should put Muhlenberg's drink. —Theodore Sturgeon, E Pluribus Unicorn, (1953) 1965
… distinguish between legitimate legislative inquiry into the acts of a man … and illegitimate inquiry into opinions … —Norman Thomas, New Republic, 28 Feb. 1955
She refused to answer inquiries from the media about her marriage.
The board ordered an inquiry to determine whether the rules had been followed.
Further inquiry showed that he had visited the city twice before.
The police are pursuing a new line of inquiry.

Recent Examples of inquiry from the Web

Quiet inquiries were made about the factory’s floor plan.

— junot díaz, The New Yorker, "The Maraschino Mogul’s Secret Life," 17 Apr. 2018
Instead of working to unpack what might be done in these sectors of concern, the Senate bumbled through overly generalized inquiry with the general finesse of Derek Zoolander trying to get at the files inside the computer.

— lauren duca, Teen Vogue, "The Facebook Testimony Shows How Congress Is Out of Touch With American Life," 14 Apr. 2018
It is expected to furnish him with fresh documentation of Mr Trump’s financial and other arrangements, opening up new vistas of potential inquiry.

— The Economist, "The Mueller probe is as much about the rule of law as Russian meddling," 14 Apr. 2018
How far back–and how high up the chain of command–should these inquiries go?

— Time, "George W. Bush Never Pardoned Scooter Libby and It Broke His Relationship With Dick Cheney," 13 Apr. 2018
Both inquiries found that — over time — flooding progressed to the engine room, which caused the Alaska Ranger to sink.

— Anchorage Daily News, "A decade after the Alaska Ranger sank, a survivor changes his story," 13 Apr. 2018
Singh insists that the men arrested are innocent and that a separate inquiry should be launched.

— steve george, CNN, "Murder and rape of 8-year-old inflames religious tensions in northern India," 13 Apr. 2018
Those are just two examples of how 351 schools that have Division I basketball programs have started the laborious task of conducting internal inquiries for the NCAA.

— jeff greer, The Courier-Journal, "Here's how colleges are preparing themselves ahead of a massive NCAA investigation," 13 Apr. 2018
For any further inquiries or interest, contact Cunningham at afdanytimefitnesswh@gmail.com or Dixon at jon.dixon41@gmail.com.

— quoron walker, Courant Community, "Local Youth Wrestling Program Has Successful Season," 11 Apr. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'inquiry.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of inquiry

see inquire

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 15th century

See Words from the same year

inquiry Synonyms

Synonyms

delving, disquisition, examination, exploration, inquest, inquisition, investigation, probation, probe, probing, research, study;

Related Words

quest;

audit, check;

checkup, diagnosis, inspection;

hearing, interrogation, trial;

feeler, query, question;

poll, questionary, questionnaire, survey;

challenge, cross-examination, going-over, grilling, quiz;

rehearing, reinvestigation;

self-examination, self-exploration, self-questioning, self-reflection, self-scrutiny, soul-searching;

INQUIRY Defined for English Language Learners

inquiry

noun

: a request for information
: an official effort to collect and examine information about something
: the act of asking questions in order to gather or collect information

INQUIRY Defined for Kids

inquiry

noun in·qui·ry \ ˈin-ˌkwī-rē , -kwə- \

plural inquiries

1 : the act of asking a question or seeking information

On further inquiry, we learned his name.

2 : a request for information

The inquiry is confidential.

3 : a thorough examination

an official inquiry

Law Dictionary

inquiry

noun in·qui·ry \ ˈin-ˌkwīr-ē, in-ˈkwīr-ē; ˈin-kwə-rē, ˈiŋ- \

plural inquiries

1 : a request for information

such doubt as would cause a reasonable person to make an inquiry

2 : a systematic official investigation often of a matter of public interest especially by a body (as a legislative committee) with power to compel testimony

— on inquiry

: having notice that inquiry should be made

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