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
And that’s presumably where all of their interrogations happen.
—Jayme Moye, Outside, 25 Nov. 2025
Khedr makes the case that the search was unlawful, while Brianna Mojica, a senior at New York City's High School for Law, Advocacy and Community Justice, argues that the meeting wasn't really an interrogation.
—Sequoia Carrillo, NPR, 23 Nov. 2025
In the season 4 finale of Special Forces, there were five remaining recruits — Brown, Giudice, Johnson East, East and LaPaglia — who had to endure an intense interrogation after being captured by enemies.
—Caroline Blair, PEOPLE, 21 Nov. 2025
After 15 years of being subjected to imprisonment, interrogation, and house arrest, Panahi made it to the New York Film Festival earlier this fall after last-minute visa issues were resolved.
—Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 19 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for interrogation
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Jayme Moye, Outside, 25 Nov. 2025
Khedr makes the case that the search was unlawful, while Brianna Mojica, a senior at New York City's High School for Law, Advocacy and Community Justice, argues that the meeting wasn't really an interrogation.
—Sequoia Carrillo, NPR, 23 Nov. 2025
In the season 4 finale of Special Forces, there were five remaining recruits — Brown, Giudice, Johnson East, East and LaPaglia — who had to endure an intense interrogation after being captured by enemies.
—Caroline Blair, PEOPLE, 21 Nov. 2025
After 15 years of being subjected to imprisonment, interrogation, and house arrest, Panahi made it to the New York Film Festival earlier this fall after last-minute visa issues were resolved.
—Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 19 Nov. 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 29 Nov. 2025.
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