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
Michael IsikoffAnd 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.
Ann Davis et al.
b
: the sending of an electronic signal intended to trigger a particular response from something (such as a transponder)
A transponder will send an identifying coded signal in response to a transmitted interrogation …—Jim Sparks
Jim SparksThe 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
Joseph W. BenkertExamples of interrogation in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The movie’s opening scene is a tense interrogation by Landa of a farmer who is hiding a Jewish family under the floorboards.
—William Earl, Variety, 6 Feb. 2026
Keep it conversational rather than turning it into a lecture or interrogation.
—Larry Magid, Mercury News, 5 Feb. 2026
The series features new prison interviews with both Adamcik and Draper, rare police interrogation footage, and explores the impact on Cassie’s family and the killers’ parents.
—Nicole Acosta, PEOPLE, 4 Feb. 2026
But since then, Palestinian passage through the crossing has been marred by delays, interrogations and uncertainty over who would be allowed to cross.
—Wafaa Shurafa, Los Angeles Times, 4 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for interrogation
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William Earl, Variety, 6 Feb. 2026
Keep it conversational rather than turning it into a lecture or interrogation.
—Larry Magid, Mercury News, 5 Feb. 2026
The series features new prison interviews with both Adamcik and Draper, rare police interrogation footage, and explores the impact on Cassie’s family and the killers’ parents.
—Nicole Acosta, PEOPLE, 4 Feb. 2026
But since then, Palestinian passage through the crossing has been marred by delays, interrogations and uncertainty over who would be allowed to cross.
—Wafaa Shurafa, Los Angeles Times, 4 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for interrogation
Cite this Entry
“Interrogation.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/interrogation. Accessed 10 Feb. 2026.
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