plural inquisitions
1
: an organization in the Roman Catholic Church in the past that was responsible for finding and punishing people who did not accept its beliefs and practices
the Spanish Inquisition
2
: a harsh and unfair investigation or series of questions
His political enemies were conducting an inquisition into the details of his personal life.
Cite this Entry
“Inquisition.” Merriam-Webster.com Simple Definition, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/simple/inquisition. Accessed 23 Jun. 2026.
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