interrogation

English

Etymology

From Middle English interrogacion, from Old French interrogacion, from Latin interrogātiō, from interrogō, from inter- (“between; among”) + rogō (“to ask; to request”). Equivalent to inter- +‎ rogation or interrogate +‎ -ion.

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /ɪnˌteɹ.əˈɡeɪ.ʃən/
  • Audio (US):(file)
  • Rhymes: -eɪʃən

Noun

interrogation (countable and uncountable, plural interrogations)

  1. The act of interrogating or questioning; an examination by questions; an inquiry.
    Synonym: questioning
    • 1936 April, T[homas] S[tearns] Eliot, “[Unfinished Poems.] Coriolan. I. Triumphal March.”, in Collected Poems 1909–1935, London: Faber & Faber […], published September 1954, →OCLC, page 136:
      There is no interrogation in his eyes / Or in the hands, quiet over the horse's neck, / And the eyes watchful, waiting, perceiving, indifferent.
    • 2021 October 5, Gessica Puccini, “Lang Belta: the Belter language from SYFY/Amazon’s The Expanse”, in Lingoblog‎[1], archived from the original on 20 May 2026:
      As an isolating language Belter Creole is rich in particles. Particles are used to indicate both negation and interrogation: na is the negative particle and it is placed before the verb
  2. A question put; an inquiry.
  3. (dated) A question mark.

Usage notes

  • Generally used with the preposition under: "He is under interrogation about last night's events."

Derived terms

Translations

French

Etymology

    Learned borrowing from Latin interrogātiōnem. By surface analysis, interroger +‎ -ation.

    Pronunciation

    • IPA(key): /ɛ̃.tɛ.ʁɔ.ɡa.sjɔ̃/ ~ /ɛ̃.te.ʁɔ.ɡa.sjɔ̃/
    • Audio:(file)
    • Audio (France (Toulouse)):(file)
    • Audio (France (Lyon)):(file)

    Noun

    interrogation f (plural interrogations)

    1. questioning, interrogation
    2. (grammar) interrogative, question
    3. (computing) query
    4. examen, often unexpected

    Derived terms

    Further reading

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