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)

A transponder will send an identifying coded signal in response to a transmitted interrogation …

—Jim Sparks

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

Barrow County Sheriff's Office Investigator Jason Smith returned to the stand briefly on July 27 and testified that investigators directed Gray to write apology letters to family members of his victims as part of their interrogation. — N'dea Yancey-Bragg, USA Today, 29 July 2026

Students were allegedly subject to interrogations by the principal when Gaggle falsely flagged certain materials. — Kendrick Calfee, Kansas City Star, 29 July 2026

The first hearing in this case happened last week, according to The Guardian, during which government attorneys and agents claimed that Tunick was subjected to a standard secondary interrogation at an international airport. — Ryan Whitwam, ArsTechnica, 27 July 2026

Police were conducting witness interrogations at the park during the night and were investigating accounts that, in addition to the crash, some victims appeared to have suffered stab wounds. — Kirsten Grieshaber, Los Angeles Times, 25 July 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1534, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing interrogation

• interrogation point

Rhymes for interrogation

• abbreviation
• abomination
• acceleration
• accentuation
• accommodation
• accreditation
• acculturation
• accumulation
• acetylation
• adjudication
• administration
• adulteration