interrogation

American  

[in-ter-uh-gay-shuhn] / ɪnˌtɛr əˈgeɪ ʃən /

noun

• interrogations
  plural

1. the act of interrogating; questioning.

2. an instance of being interrogated.

   He seemed shaken after his interrogation.

3. a question; inquiry.

4. a written list of questions.

5. an interrogation point; question mark.

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interrogation British  

/ ɪnˌtɛrəˈɡeɪʃən /

noun

1. the technique, practice, or an instance of interrogating

2. a question or query

3. telecomm the transmission of one or more triggering pulses to a transponder

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• reinterrogation
  noun
• self-interrogation
  noun
• interrogational
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• interrogations
  plural

Etymology

Origin of interrogation

1350–1400; Middle English interrogacio ( u ) n < Latin interrogātiōn- (stem of interrogātiō ). See interrogate, -ion

Explanation

An interrogation is a question or an intense questioning session. Police do interrogations of suspects all the time. Have you ever heard someone say, "What is this? An interrogation?" People say that when they feel like they're being questioned a little too much. An interrogation can mean a single question or a series of questions. Police stations usually have interrogation rooms for questioning suspects. When someone is doing an interrogation, they're looking for answers, and it's usually about something very serious.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

interrogation interrogations

He won an Academy Award for best documentary for "Taxi to the Dark Side," which tackles the US military's interrogation practices in Afghanistan.

From Barron's ● Sep. 10, 2026

The Israeli operatives loaded Al-Arabid wounded but alive into a van that sped him across the border into Israel for interrogation.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 2, 2026

Especially knowing full well that all that interrogation could ever reveal was a bottomless shame that nobody—and certainly not themselves—could atone for?

From Slate ● Aug. 17, 2026

Although one participant appeared remotely, on a large TV monitor, during the real interrogation, the theatrical version places all three figures in the same room.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 7, 2026

Plus, the music will keep me from Sonny’s interrogation, because I can’t answer him if I can’t hear him.

From "On the Come Up" by Angie Thomas

Zin said US officials had told her that Min Zin was being subjected to up to six hours of interrogations each day when he first arrived in jail.

From BBC ● Sep. 17, 2026

But the trial judge Lieutenant Colonel Michael Schrama has concluded that Mohammed's subsequent interrogations in 2007 at Guantanamo were also inadmissible.

From Barron's ● Aug. 28, 2026

It was May 1999, and US Army sergeant Andrew Ramirez had been held captive for over a month by Yugoslav forces, enduring days of dark confinement and interrogations.

From BBC ● Feb. 17, 2026

Other suspects detained in Madagascar over the affair identified Ravatomanga, during interrogations conducted notably by the FBI, as the mastermind of the deal, people with knowledge of the case have told AFP.

From Barron's ● Oct. 22, 2025

Powers held firm until the interrogations finally came to an end.

From "Spies: The Secret Showdown Between America and Russia" by Marc Favreau

Related Words

• cross-examination
• examination
• inquiry
• investigation