an official investigation, especially one of a political or religious nature, characterized by lack of regard for individual rights, prejudice on the part of the examiners, and recklessly cruel punishments.
any harsh, difficult, or prolonged questioning.
the act of inquiring; inquiry; research.
an investigation, or process of inquiry.
a judicial or official inquiry.
the finding of such an inquiry.
the document embodying the result of such inquiry.
(initial capital letter)
a former special tribunal, engaged chiefly in combating and punishing heresy.
the act of inquiring deeply or searchingly; investigation
a deep or searching inquiry, esp a ruthless official investigation of individuals in order to suppress revolt or root out the unorthodox
an official inquiry, esp one held by a jury before an officer of the Crown
another word for inquest
The Inquisition was most active in Spain, especially under Tomás de Torquemada (see also Torquemada); its officials sometimes gained confessions through torture. It did not cease operation in the Spanish Empire until the nineteenth century.
By association, a harsh or unjust trial or interrogation may be called an “inquisition.”
1350–1400; Middle English inquisicio ( u ) n < Latin inquīsītiōn- (stem of inquīsītiō ), equivalent to inquīsīt ( us ) past participle of inquīrere to inquire + -iōn- -ion
An inquisition is a severe, harsh interrogation or questioning. When there's an inquisition, someone is doing everything possible to get to the bottom of something. While inquisitions are never a very positive experience, this word has even worse connotations thanks to the Spanish Inquisition, which hunted down and persecuted anyone who didn't believe in Catholicism. Today we use inquisition to describe any serious investigation, usually an illegal or immoral one. If your mom keeps hounding you with questions about school, your job, your love life — you might yell, "What is this? An inquisition?"
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Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Writing in Spanish daily publication El Mundo in 2024, Shakira, 49, compared the tax office investigations into her affairs to an "inquisition trial".
From BBC ● May 18, 2026
Tuttle’s fearless inquisition won’t insult your intelligence, ask your mercy or hogtie your feelings.
From Los Angeles Times ● May 9, 2026
England will face an inquisition when they get home with coach Brendon McCullum's job in the spotlight.
From Barron's ● Jan. 8, 2026
Every inquisition into exactly who’s to blame for this unmitigated disaster has to begin by looking in the mirror.
From Salon ● Jan. 21, 2025
Carrie Buck was asked a single question during the inquisition: “Do you care to say anything about having the operations performed on you?”
From "The Gene" by Siddhartha Mukherjee
It inspired the people of Billings more than 30 years ago, and it has inspired the Jewish people through some of their most trying times in history—from the Spanish Inquisition to the Holocaust.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Dec. 10, 2025
"It likely came with related Sephardic Jews or Moors fleeing the Inquisition," says Santos.
From BBC ● May 11, 2025
Here's a bit of a history lesson: My family was originally from Sicily, and we're talking before the Spanish Inquisition of 1492.
From Salon ● Sep. 28, 2024
This rare mutation -- found in just 400 to 500 people worldwide -- was identified in a group of Ecuadorians whose ancestors had fled Spain during the Inquisition more than three centuries ago.
From Science Daily ● Apr. 26, 2024
Unlike Galileo, though, he did not have to fear that this might upset the Inquisition.
From "The Scientists" by John Gribbin
While the Nationals have opened themselves up to inquisitions from teams that would love to have Soto for the next three pennant chases, they don’t seem eager to give up the generational talent.
From Washington Times ● Jul. 24, 2022
Documentarian Wilson takes a meandering approach to seemingly banal subjects and then skillfully turns them into profound inquisitions into the human condition.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 21, 2022
In turn the kids make her feel small with their inquisitions: "Is this what you always wanted to do?"
From Salon ● Dec. 26, 2021
It contained uncanny, elevated descriptions of sound and performance, offered grounded philosophical inquisitions and sprinkled in wink-nudge personal asides.
From New York Times ● Dec. 8, 2021
They were unpleasant enough, these private inquisitions, but I cannot find words to adequately express the torments I suffered when he chose to ply this art of his in public.
From "The Secret History" by Donna Tartt
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
