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

Example Sentences

Rather than serve as an inquisition of Ohtani as a two-way player, this World Series against the Toronto Blue Jays is shaping into a celebration of the most singular act in modern baseball.

From Los Angeles Times

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

Their motivation is to avert the horror show of one win from four with a trip to Paris to come and the grand inquisition of the coaches that would come with it.

From BBC

Every inquisition into exactly who’s to blame for this unmitigated disaster has to begin by looking in the mirror.

From Salon

O’Connor suggests that parents turn the inquisition back on their children by asking, “That’s an interesting question. What do you think?”

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• interrogation