inquest

American  

[in-kwest] / ˈɪn kwɛst /

noun

1. a legal or judicial inquiry, usually before a jury, especially an investigation made by a coroner into the cause of a death.

   Synonyms:

   inquisition, hearing

2. the body of people appointed to hold such an inquiry, especially a coroner's jury.

3. the decision or finding based on such inquiry.

4. an investigation or examination.

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inquest British  

/ ˈɪnˌkwɛst /

noun

1. an inquiry into the cause of an unexplained, sudden, or violent death, or as to whether or not property constitutes treasure trove, held by a coroner, in certain cases with a jury

2. informal any inquiry or investigation

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Etymology

Origin of inquest

First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English, from Medieval Latin inquēsta, equivalent to Latin in- + quaesīta, plural (taken in Medieval Latin as feminine singular) of quaesītum “question”; replacing Middle English enqueste, from Anglo-French, from Medieval Latin, as above; see in- ², quest

Explanation

An inquest is when a court of law or a coroner investigates the circumstances of a person's death. If a person in your family dies suddenly, you might attend an inquest at the courthouse. A death doesn't always require an inquest — they are typically carried out when there is something unexplained or suspicious about the way someone died. The inquest might be a step before a murder investigation, for example. Like a trial, a court inquest typically has a verdict issued by a judge, which might be "natural death" or "accidental death." The Old French root word is enqueste, or "inquiry."

Example Sentences

Inquest proceedings in the UK are looking at the deaths of Mr Lynch and his daughter, as Mr and Mrs Bloomer, who were all British nationals.

From BBC • May 9, 2025

Inquest director Deborah Coles said a delay in a bill being introduced to Parliament by the anniversary would be "disappointing" but that it was important the proposed legislation fully met campaigners' hopes.

From BBC • Apr. 8, 2025

Rosanna Ellul, from the charity Inquest, said: "The government need to take much more responsibility in overseeing these reports and create a new independent public body... to increase transparency and accountability."

From BBC • Mar. 25, 2024

Deborah Coles, the director of the charity Inquest, told a parliamentary hearing last month there was a danger reports could simply "disappear into the ether", with the same mistakes repeated in the future.

From BBC • Mar. 7, 2024

It appeared to me to break down upon a confusion that pervaded it, between a Coroner's Inquest and a Trial.

From The Letters of Charles Dickens Vol. 3, 1836-1870 by Dickens, Mamie

Related Words

• inquisition