inquiry

American  

[in-kwahyuhr-ee, in-kwuh-ree] / ɪnˈkwaɪər i, ˈɪn kwə ri /

Also enquiry

noun

plural

inquiries

1. a seeking or request for truth, information, or knowledge.

   Synonyms:

   exploration, scrutiny, study

2. an investigation, as into an incident.

   a Congressional inquiry into the bribery charges.

3. the act of inquiring or of seeking information by questioning; interrogation.

4. a question; query.

   Antonyms:

   reply, answer

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inquiry British  

/ ɪnˈkwaɪərɪ /

noun

1. a request for information; a question

2. an investigation, esp a formal one conducted into a matter of public concern by a body constituted for that purpose by a government, local authority, or other organization

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Usage

What's the difference between inquiry and enquiry? Inquiry and enquiry 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—inquire and enquire—also mean the same thing: to ask, to seek information, or to investigate. Both inquiry and enquiry are somewhat formal, especially compared to similar terms like question or investigation. Some speakers of British English may use both words, preferring inquiry in contexts that are more formal. In the U. S., enquiry is rarely used. Here’s an example of inquiry used correctly in a sentence. Example: I forwarded you an email with an inquiry about the open position. Enquiry could be used in this sentence in the same exact way. Most of these same distinctions apply to the verbs inquire and enquire. To learn more about them, read the full breakdown of the difference between inquire and enquire.

Related Words

See investigation.

Other Word Forms

• reinquiry noun

Etymology

Origin of inquiry

First recorded in 1400–50; inquire + -y ³; replacing late Middle English enquery

Explanation

When you ask the guy behind the counter if they've got any aspirin, you're making an inquiry. Almost any search for information or knowledge is an inquiry, though an inquiry is often an official search. Though any question is, technically, an inquiry, that word is usually used to refer to an official or public search for the truth. For instance, after a plane crash, the government launches an inquiry into the cause. Politicians and government officials are often the ones who demand an inquiry when an important question needs to be answered, but a child can do the same thing. If your kid wants to know what's for dinner, she can make an inquiry about it. She can also just, y'know, ask.

Example Sentences

On Monday, the public inquiry identified "catastrophic" parental and local authority failings, with a "merry-go-round" of referrals, assessments and "hand-offs" between agencies failing to stop the "predictable and preventable" attack.

From BBC • Apr. 14, 2026

“I have no interest in submitting to a public inquiry that has already caused far more damage than I am willing to accept,” she said.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 14, 2026

Senior NFL reporter Dianna Russini resigned from the Athletic after photos of her with the New England Patriots coach, Mike Vrabel, led to an inquiry.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 14, 2026

Open inquiry, honest engagement with evidence, the willingness to follow reasoning wherever it leads—these aren’t arbitrary cultural preferences; they are the conditions under which intelligence flourishes at scale.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 13, 2026

There had been a mixture of disappointment, doubt, and inquiry in her eyes.

From "Red Scarf Girl: A Memoir of the Cultural Revolution" by Ji-li Jiang

Related Words

• analysis
• audit
• examination
• hearing
• inspection
• interrogation
• investigation
• probe
• query
• question
• questioning
• request
• research
• scrutiny
• search
• study
• survey