interrogation

noun

in·​ter·​ro·​ga·​tion in-ˌter-ə-ˈgā-shən 

plural interrogations

: the act of interrogating someone or something: such as

a

: a formal and systematic questioning

She conducted a skillful interrogation of the witness.

It was old-fashioned interrogation and eavesdropping that first led U.S. intelligence agents to the … plotters.

—Michael Isikoff

And during interrogation, instead of just listening for inconsistencies in what is said, agents are being taught to look for minute physical reactions on the faces of people being questioned.

—Ann Davis et al.

b

: the sending of an electronic signal intended to trigger a particular response from something (such as a transponder)

The airborne equipment measures the time between the interrogation and the return signal, and converts this time measurement into a mileage reading on our instrument panel, on either a dial or digital counter.

—Joseph W. Benkert

interrogational

in-ˌter-ə-ˈgā-sh(ə-)nəl 

adjective

Examples of interrogation in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Russell Jones taunts investigators while alone in the interrogation room. —Natalie Morales, Richard Fetzer, CBS News, 19 Apr. 2025

But then the woman Bob slept with goes missing and new revelations in the decade-old Summers case send Sarah and Bob back into the interrogation room. —Clare Mulroy, USA Today, 16 Apr. 2025

Despite his grief over his wife’s death and daughter’s disappearance, Said becomes the target of interrogation. —Isabella Wandermurem, Time, 15 Apr. 2025

But after two years of interrogation, Mr. Kim was pardoned. —Choe Sang-Hun, New York Times, 10 Apr. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1534, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing interrogation

• interrogation point

Rhymes for interrogation

• abbreviation
• abomination
• acceleration
• accentuation
• accommodation
• accreditation
• acculturation
• accumulation
• acetylation
• adjudication
• administration
• adulteration