interrogative

American  

[in-tuh-rog-uh-tiv] / ˌɪn təˈrɒg ə tɪv /

adjective

1. of, relating to, or conveying a question.

2. Grammar. forming, constituting, or used in or to form a question.

   an interrogative pronoun, suffix, particle, or sentence.

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noun

1. Grammar. an interrogative word, element, or construction, as who? and what?

interrogative British  

/ ˌɪntəˈrɒɡətɪv /

adjective

1. asking or having the nature of a question

2. denoting a form or construction used in asking a question

3. denoting or belonging to a class of words, such as which and whom, that are determiners, adjectives, or pronouns and serve to question which individual referent or referents are intended Compare demonstrative relative

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noun

1. an interrogative word, phrase, sentence, or construction

2. a question mark

Other Word Forms

• interrogatively adverb
• uninterrogative adjective
• uninterrogatively adverb

Etymology

Origin of interrogative

From the Late Latin word interrogātīvus, dating back to 1510–20. See interrogate, -ive

Example Sentences

Over the holiday season, there were online pile-ons galore, with straight women repeatedly taking gay critics of the show to task over their negative or merely interrogative opinions of the series.

From Salon

At charity events, auctioneers insert interrogative phrases, such as “would you give?,” an appeal to the bidders’ generosity.

From The Wall Street Journal

“I think of my writing as interrogative,” Paul Harding said.

From New York Times

Variety wrote: The film “feels like a miracle and an interrogative act of defiance.”

From New York Times

The interrogative form does all the work of asking aloud — with none of the actual asking — why mom still thinks you can speak for a four-years-ago ex.

From Washington Post