interrogation

noun

in·​ter·​ro·​ga·​tion in-ˌter-ə-ˈgā-shən How to pronounce interrogation (audio)
plural interrogations
: the act of interrogating someone or something: such as
a
: a formal and systematic questioning
She conducted a skillful interrogation of the witness.
It was old-fashioned interrogation and eavesdropping that first led U.S. intelligence agents to the … plotters.Michael Isikoff
And during interrogation, instead of just listening for inconsistencies in what is said, agents are being taught to look for minute physical reactions on the faces of people being questioned.Ann Davis et al.
b
: the sending of an electronic signal intended to trigger a particular response from something (such as a transponder)
The airborne equipment measures the time between the interrogation and the return signal, and converts this time measurement into a mileage reading on our instrument panel, on either a dial or digital counter.Joseph W. Benkert
interrogational adjective

Examples of interrogation in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web The filthy tiled chamber outfitted with metal shackles and fluorescent lights where much of the film takes place resembles an interrogation room, for example. Katie Rife, IndieWire, 12 Aug. 2024 Mohammed's lead attorney Gary Sowards said his client also agreed to let the government use accounts of his interrogations at Guantánamo Bay in 2007, which had been hotly disputed for years. Democrat-Gazette Staff From Wire Reports, arkansasonline.com, 8 Aug. 2024 On Wednesday and Thursday, prosecutors played a recording of Cooper’s Jan. 4 interrogation at the hands of Oakland police investigators. Jakob Rodgers, The Mercury News, 8 Aug. 2024 Miss Scott couldn’t bear to look at him and fled to an interrogation room. Mandi Bierly, TVLine, 4 Aug. 2024 See all Example Sentences for interrogation 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'interrogation.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1534, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of interrogation was in 1534

Dictionary Entries Near interrogation

Cite this Entry

“Interrogation.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/interrogation. Accessed 19 Aug. 2024.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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