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
As the interrogation unfolds, Dave’s belief that he was framed by the State begins to unravel, blurring the line between truth, obsession and self-deception.
—Lily Ford, HollywoodReporter, 30 Jan. 2026
Namely, the interrogation of tailoring, playing with transitional turning points that makes for outsize shapes and subversive silhouettes.
—Anna Cafolla, Vogue, 28 Jan. 2026
Araki flashes back a tongue-in-cheek nine-and-a-half weeks to show us, alternating key moments from Elliot’s life with deadpan police interrogation scenes, where Elliot is questioned by officers played, with Araki’s undeniable casting brilliance, by Margaret Cho and Johnny Knoxville.
—Damon Wise, Deadline, 23 Jan. 2026
Social media platforms were filled with video clips not only of Good’s killing but also of federal agents doing sidewalk and parking lot interrogations of Black, Latino and other nonwhite residents.
—Clarence Page, Chicago Tribune, 18 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for interrogation
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Lily Ford, HollywoodReporter, 30 Jan. 2026
Namely, the interrogation of tailoring, playing with transitional turning points that makes for outsize shapes and subversive silhouettes.
—Anna Cafolla, Vogue, 28 Jan. 2026
Araki flashes back a tongue-in-cheek nine-and-a-half weeks to show us, alternating key moments from Elliot’s life with deadpan police interrogation scenes, where Elliot is questioned by officers played, with Araki’s undeniable casting brilliance, by Margaret Cho and Johnny Knoxville.
—Damon Wise, Deadline, 23 Jan. 2026
Social media platforms were filled with video clips not only of Good’s killing but also of federal agents doing sidewalk and parking lot interrogations of Black, Latino and other nonwhite residents.
—Clarence Page, Chicago Tribune, 18 Jan. 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 5 Feb. 2026.
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