Showing results for "enquiry"

• a variation of inquiry.

enquiry

American  

[en-kwahyuhr-ee, en-kwuh-ree] / ɛnˈkwaɪər i, ˈɛn kwə ri /

noun

• enquiries
  plural

1. inquiry.

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Usage

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.

Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• enquiries
  plural

Explanation

The noun enquiry is a British spelling of the word "inquiry." Both words mean the act of asking questions to gain information. If you are in London, you can make enquiries about the opening times of the many museums there. Although enquiry is now considered the variant spelling in the United States, it was the original English spelling of the word that comes from the Old French word enquerre. The noun also means a systematic investigation, usually undertaken for the benefit of the public. If you discover pollution in your local river, the government may open an enquiry into the source of the pollution and ways to clean it up.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

enquiry enquiries

The Met said its detectives had "exhausted numerous lines of enquiry - including working with coroners – to identify whether Levy is responsible for any similar, unsolved incidents, including deaths".

From BBC ● Aug. 8, 2026

As the APD released the podcast in June, detectives were testing the DNA using new forensic genealogy technology, and the programme updated listeners about other new lines of enquiry.

From BBC ● Jul. 31, 2026

She added: "Nina Simone once said 'An artist's duty, as far as I'm concerned, is to reflect the times' and sometimes this means revisiting, enquiry and challenge."

From BBC ● Jun. 22, 2026

South Korea sent more than 140,000 children overseas for adoption between 1955 and 1999, according to an official enquiry in the country.

From Barron's ● Jun. 4, 2026

The telescope addressed directly issues that were already under discussion; the microscope opened up new lines of enquiry whose relevance to current concerns was not obvious.

From "The Invention of Science" by David Wootton

Cleveland Police said formal identification was yet to take place and it was continuing to carry out enquiries on behalf of the coroner.

From BBC ● Jul. 14, 2026

A British holidaymaker asking where to get blonde highlights in Jordan is among the "unusual enquiries" received by consular staff, the Foreign Office has revealed.

From BBC ● Jul. 11, 2026

The department also said some enquiries had been football-related during the World Cup, with a caller in Italy asking where they could watch the Scotland v Haiti group game in Milan.

From BBC ● Jul. 11, 2026

Detectives were continuing to carry out "numerous enquiries" and the investigation was "moving at a significant pace", he added.

From BBC ● Jul. 11, 2026

“Why not go from door to door making enquiries? I might have done it myself. You appear to have no more proof against de Winter there than you would have against me.”

From "Rebecca" by Daphne du Maurier

Related Words

• inquiry
• inquisition
• query