court of inquiry

American  

noun

1. a military board or agency created to investigate and report on certain military matters, as an accusation against an officer.

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court of inquiry British  

noun

1. a group of people appointed to investigate the causes of a disaster, accident, etc

2. a military court set up to inquire into a military matter such as a failure of equipment or procedure

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Etymology

Origin of court of inquiry

First recorded in 1750–60

Example Sentences

The pilot ejected safely and sustained minor injuries in the process, the air force said, adding that a court of inquiry had been set up to investigate the cause of the accident.

From Reuters • May 8, 2023

Reiter, who presided over the court of inquiry, said to me.

From Slate • Jun. 19, 2020

Decatur was a member of the court of inquiry into the surrender, then sat on the court martial that suspended Barron from the Navy.

From Washington Times • Mar. 22, 2020

“I was starting for the bridge when I felt a slight trembling,” the captain told a court of inquiry.

From Los Angeles Times • Sep. 6, 2019

But Dad hated unprintable words, and the fact that he had stood up for his son didn’t prevent him from holding a full-dress court of inquiry once he got home, and administering the called-for punishment.

From "Cheaper by the Dozen" by Frank B. Gilbreth Jr. and Ernestine Gilbreth Carey