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)
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
Joseph W. BenkertExamples of interrogation in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
During Cardi B‘s civil trial over claims the rapper physically assaulted a security guard, footage from the court room battle was quickly memeified thanks to Cardi’s viral witness-stand interrogation.
—Charisma Madarang, Rolling Stone, 15 Sep. 2025
Winner's story has been told in a 2021 documentary Reality Winner, the 2023 film Reality, and in the play Is This A Room, in which actors reenacted the transcript of the FBI interrogation of her.
—Terry Gross, NPR, 11 Sep. 2025
One person was released and charged with obstruction by university police, and a second person was released after interrogation by law enforcement, according to the statement.
—Lauren De Young, AZCentral.com, 11 Sep. 2025
The subject in custody has been released after an interrogation by law enforcement.
—Ross O'Keefe, The Washington Examiner, 10 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for interrogation
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Charisma Madarang, Rolling Stone, 15 Sep. 2025
Winner's story has been told in a 2021 documentary Reality Winner, the 2023 film Reality, and in the play Is This A Room, in which actors reenacted the transcript of the FBI interrogation of her.
—Terry Gross, NPR, 11 Sep. 2025
One person was released and charged with obstruction by university police, and a second person was released after interrogation by law enforcement, according to the statement.
—Lauren De Young, AZCentral.com, 11 Sep. 2025
The subject in custody has been released after an interrogation by law enforcement.
—Ross O'Keefe, The Washington Examiner, 10 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for interrogation
Cite this Entry
“Interrogation.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/interrogation. Accessed 17 Sep. 2025.
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