an official investigation, especially one of a political or religious nature, characterized by lack of regard for individual rights, prejudice on the part of the examiners, and recklessly cruel punishments.
any harsh, difficult, or prolonged questioning.
the act of inquiring; inquiry; research.
an investigation, or process of inquiry.
a judicial or official inquiry.
the finding of such an inquiry.
the document embodying the result of such inquiry.
(initial capital letter)
a former special tribunal, engaged chiefly in combating and punishing heresy.
the act of inquiring deeply or searchingly; investigation
a deep or searching inquiry, esp a ruthless official investigation of individuals in order to suppress revolt or root out the unorthodox
an official inquiry, esp one held by a jury before an officer of the Crown
another word for inquest
The Inquisition was most active in Spain, especially under Tomás de Torquemada (see also Torquemada); its officials sometimes gained confessions through torture. It did not cease operation in the Spanish Empire until the nineteenth century.
By association, a harsh or unjust trial or interrogation may be called an “inquisition.”
1350–1400; Middle English inquisicio ( u ) n < Latin inquīsītiōn- (stem of inquīsītiō ), equivalent to inquīsīt ( us ) past participle of inquīrere to inquire + -iōn- -ion
An inquisition is a severe, harsh interrogation or questioning. When there's an inquisition, someone is doing everything possible to get to the bottom of something. While inquisitions are never a very positive experience, this word has even worse connotations thanks to the Spanish Inquisition, which hunted down and persecuted anyone who didn't believe in Catholicism. Today we use inquisition to describe any serious investigation, usually an illegal or immoral one. If your mom keeps hounding you with questions about school, your job, your love life — you might yell, "What is this? An inquisition?"
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Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
As the Spurs supporters poured into their favourite watering holes and haunts around the stadium, the inquisition, and plotting for the future, should have already begun inside.
From BBC ● May 24, 2026
England will face an inquisition when they get home with coach Brendon McCullum's job in the spotlight.
From Barron's ● Jan. 8, 2026
In March 2020, COVID-19 caused the indefinite postponement of the state’s second inquisition.
From Los Angeles Times ● Feb. 25, 2025
For example, there’s Pirate Day, when campers learn about Jews who were expelled to the Caribbean during the Spanish inquisition and found livelihoods as pirates.
From Seattle Times ● Aug. 11, 2023
It was evident from the very first question that his involvement with the accelerator had left him utterly unprepared for the inquisition.
From "Big Science" by Michael Hiltzik
It inspired the people of Billings more than 30 years ago, and it has inspired the Jewish people through some of their most trying times in history—from the Spanish Inquisition to the Holocaust.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Dec. 10, 2025
Here's a bit of a history lesson: My family was originally from Sicily, and we're talking before the Spanish Inquisition of 1492.
From Salon ● Sep. 28, 2024
This rare mutation -- found in just 400 to 500 people worldwide -- was identified in a group of Ecuadorians whose ancestors had fled Spain during the Inquisition more than three centuries ago.
From Science Daily ● Apr. 26, 2024
Jews settled in Bosnia in the 15th century after fleeing the Spanish Inquisition.
From Seattle Times ● Jan. 27, 2024
“Don’t get your hopes up, Paloma. Five hundred years is a long time, and if our family was forced to leave during the Spanish Inquisition, some of the memories could be bitter.”
From "Across So Many Seas" by Ruth Behar
While the Nationals have opened themselves up to inquisitions from teams that would love to have Soto for the next three pennant chases, they don’t seem eager to give up the generational talent.
From Washington Times ● Jul. 24, 2022
It contained uncanny, elevated descriptions of sound and performance, offered grounded philosophical inquisitions and sprinkled in wink-nudge personal asides.
From New York Times ● Dec. 8, 2021
Stop the reproduction inquisitions during wine nights and happy hours.
From Salon ● Nov. 27, 2021
If other interview programs could resemble beds of nails, with “gotcha” inquisitions of newsmakers, Mr. King’s show was a plush chaise longue.
From Washington Post ● Jan. 23, 2021
Admiral Chester Nimitz and Major General Kenyon Joyce, two renowned local war heroes, rounded out its membership, though they generally sat by silently during hearings while Neylan conducted the inquisitions.
From "Big Science" by Michael Hiltzik
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.
