inquisition

American  

[in-kwuh-zish-uhn, ing-] / ˌɪn kwəˈzɪʃ ən, ˌɪŋ- /

noun

1. 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.

2. any harsh, difficult, or prolonged questioning.

3. the act of inquiring; inquiry; research.

4. an investigation, or process of inquiry.

5. a judicial or official inquiry.

   Synonyms:

   hearing, inquest

6. the finding of such an inquiry.

7. the document embodying the result of such inquiry.

8. (initial capital letter)

   1. a former special tribunal, engaged chiefly in combating and punishing heresy.

   2. Spanish Inquisition.

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Inquisition ¹ British  

/ ˌɪnkwɪˈzɪʃən /

noun

1. history a judicial institution of the Roman Catholic Church (1232–1820) founded to discover and suppress heresy See also Spanish Inquisition

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inquisition ² British  

/ ˌɪnkwɪˈzɪʃən /

noun

1. the act of inquiring deeply or searchingly; investigation

2. a deep or searching inquiry, esp a ruthless official investigation of individuals in order to suppress revolt or root out the unorthodox

3. an official inquiry, esp one held by a jury before an officer of the Crown

4. another word for inquest

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Inquisition Cultural  

1. A court established by the Roman Catholic Church in the thirteenth century to try cases of heresy and other offenses against the church. Those convicted could be handed over to the civil authorities for punishment, including execution.

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Discover More

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.”

Other Word Forms

• inquisitional adjective
• inquisitionist noun
• preinquisition noun

Etymology

Origin of 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

Explanation

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?"

Example Sentences

England will face an inquisition when they get home with coach Brendon McCullum's job in the spotlight.

From Barron's • Jan. 8, 2026

But over the course of her inquisition into the events surrounding her late husband’s heart attack, her prose becomes sharper, more concise.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 13, 2025

Horner's PR minder let the inquisition continue by and large.

From BBC • Feb. 15, 2024

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

Related Words

• interrogation