inquisitor
Americannoun
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a person who makes an inquisition.
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a questioner, especially an unduly curious or harsh one.
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a person who investigates in an official capacity.
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a member of the Inquisition.
noun
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a person who inquires, esp deeply, searchingly, or ruthlessly
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(often capital) an official of the ecclesiastical court of the Inquisition
Etymology
Origin of inquisitor
1495–1505; < Latin inquīsītor, equivalent to inquīsī-, variant stem of inquīrere to inquire + -tor -tor
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Why, his inquisitor demanded, had Dillon, Read taken a disproportionate share of the profit from the funds it managed for the public?
From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 21, 2025
Amorim said, without giving his inquisitor a chance to reply.
From BBC • Aug. 18, 2025
Cornwell surely knew there was a fan in Morris, an enthusiast of the elusive as much as an inquisitor.
From Los Angeles Times • Oct. 20, 2023
A couple sits before an inquisitor grasping their tax returns.
From New York Times • Nov. 2, 2022
Jean Louise turned to her inquisitor, a young woman with a small hat, small features, and small sharp teeth.
From "Go Set a Watchman: A Novel" by Harper Lee
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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.