enquiry
Americannoun
plural
enquiriesUsage
What's the difference between enquiry and inquiry? Enquiry and inquiry have the same meanings: a question, an investigation, a request for information, or the process of seeking information. Enquiry is a less common variant of inquiry.Their verb forms—enquire and inquire—also mean the same thing: to ask, to seek information, or to investigate.Both enquiry and inquiry are somewhat formal, especially compared to similar terms like question or investigation. Some speakers of British English may use both words, preferring enquiry in contexts that are less formal. In the U.S., enquiry is rarely used.Here’s an example of enquiry used correctly in a sentence.Example: I forwarded you an email with an enquiry about the open position.Inquiry could be used in this sentence in the same exact way.Most of these same distinctions apply to the verbs enquire and inquire.To learn more about them, read the full breakdown of the difference between enquire and inquire.
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Greg Jackson, head of Octopus Energy, described a "huge jolt" in sales of solar panels and heat pumps, as well as enquiries about electric vehicles and chargers, so far this month compared to February.
From BBC
Sir Mark said police were "pursuing all lines of enquiry", including "an online claim of responsibility by an Islamist group who have claimed other attacks across Europe and have potential Iranian state links".
From BBC
We asked for its response to reports that the car had been stationary and fired on without warning, and were told to direct our enquiry to the police.
From BBC
She added: "The death of an infant is always an extremely tragic occurrence, and officers are making urgent enquiries around the circumstances."
From BBC
The 23-year-old's body was found at a house in Enniskillen on 7 March by police carrying out enquiries into a car crash eight miles away in the village of Tempo.
From BBC
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.
