- a variation of inquiry.
enquiry
Americannoun
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
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.
Vocabulary lists containing enquiry
"The Metamorphosis" by Franz Kafka
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"God Sees the Truth, But Waits" by Leo Tolstory
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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.
The Additional Chief Secretary, G. Anupama, said in a text message, "Enquiry is underway" and directed Reuters to the health minister for Haryana state, Anil Vij, for further details.
From Reuters • Jun. 14, 2023
"The Special Enquiry Team has conducted the assessment process which has included contacting those believed to hold relevant information," the statement shared.
From Fox News • Feb. 16, 2022
The phone-tapping scandal engulfed the UK print news industry and ultimately prompted the Leveson Enquiry.
From BBC • Jul. 26, 2021
Colloquially known as the “black boxes,” these two crucial data repositories will be examined by France’s Bureau of Enquiry and Analysis for Civil Aviation Safety, or BEA.
From Slate • Mar. 15, 2019
David Hume, in his 1748 book, An Enquiry Concerning Human Understanding, wrote, “There appear to be only three principles of connections among ideas, namely Resemblance, Contiguity in time or place, and Cause or Effect.”
From "The Sense of Style" by Steven Pinker
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.
