interrogation
Americannoun
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interrogations
plural
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the act of interrogating; questioning.
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an instance of being interrogated.
He seemed shaken after his interrogation.
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a question; inquiry.
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a written list of questions.
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an interrogation point; question mark.
noun
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the technique, practice, or an instance of interrogating
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a question or query
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telecomm the transmission of one or more triggering pulses to a transponder
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
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.
Vocabulary lists containing interrogation
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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.
See Examples For:
After a brief interrogation, and contrary to Dan’s previous claims, Bill admitted involvement with the superstore.
From Slate ● Aug. 14, 2026
It functions, instead, as an honest and inquisitive interrogation of a life that has been, for too long, shrunken down and underappreciated.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 7, 2026
Three episodes of “The Man Will Burn” have aired with very little interrogation of how well it lives up to its hallowed 10 Principles, one of which is Radical Inclusion.
From Salon ● Jul. 24, 2026
Images circulated at the time showed Abu Safiya walking towards an Israeli armoured vehicle in his white doctor's coat through the rubble before being taken for interrogation.
From BBC ● Jul. 7, 2026
Between interrogation sessions, he lay in a tiny cell.
From "Fallout: Spies, Superbombs, and the Ultimate Cold War Showdown" by Steve Sheinkin
Behind the camera, filming in Iran came with its challenges - Khaki and Eyni say they faced delays obtaining permits from local authorities, interrogations and had their hard drives confiscated.
From BBC ● Feb. 20, 2026
Some were hand-searched, while others were brought in for interrogations, including Adel Imran, who was asked about names and addresses of family members.
From Los Angeles Times ● Feb. 19, 2026
"The relentless, baseless accusations and public interrogations he faced in recent months caused him immense pressure and pain," posted Sarin.
From BBC ● Oct. 22, 2025
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
The chorus of their interrogations bounced off the station's walls, and the lies she fed them rolled out with ease.
From "The Marvellers" by Dhonielle Clayton
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.
