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

Dodge’s own mother becomes certain of Tapp’s innocence after watching recordings of his interrogation, sparking a yearslong search for the truth before police can question the real killer. —Ivan Pereira, ABC News, 1 Apr. 2024

Then he was blindfolded and led away for interrogation. —Sheera Frenkel, New York Times, 27 Mar. 2024

Authorities said that during his interrogation, Doerman confessed to the killings. —Liam Quinn, Peoplemag, 19 Mar. 2024

From her few lines on 30 Rock to her fierce interrogation of Clarie Danes' Carrie on Homeland, Pittman shares anecdotes from her time on sets — including her character Lisa's dramatic death on The Americans. —Patrick Gomez, EW.com, 9 Mar. 2024

Those protesting fear say they've been harassed and intimidated, subjected to police interrogations and threats from their children’s employers. —Dake Kang, Quartz, 13 Mar. 2024

One of the sources said Albán had been transferred to Havana for further interrogations and that Media Luna had closed its businesses. —Nora Gámez Torres, Miami Herald, 8 Mar. 2024

Why did the obviously brilliant Robert Oppenheimer so suddenly and completely collapse under hostile interrogation at the 1954 loyalty hearing? —TIME, 8 Mar. 2024

This essay is a pitch-perfect example of letting the details speak for themselves: Palestinian men and boys between the ages of 12 and 70 are stripped, cuffed, blindfolded and then loaded onto the backs of trucks to be taken for interrogation. —Seyward Darby, Longreads, 8 Feb. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1534, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing interrogation

• interrogation point