inquest
noun
in·quest
ˈin-ˌkwest 
1
a
: a judicial or official inquiry or examination especially before a jury
a coroner's inquest
b
: a body of people (such as a jury) assembled to hold such an inquiry
c
: the finding of the jury upon such inquiry or the document recording it
2
Examples of inquest in a Sentence
The court has ordered an inquest into his death.
the police conducted an inquest into the case
Recent Examples on the Web
As the five-day inquest continues, a fuller picture is emerging about their lives and final moments.
—
Sam Gillette, People.com, 24 July 2025
The inquest jury also rejected the police’s claim that the shooting of Jean Charles de Menezes was lawful.
—Barry Levitt, Time, 1 July 2025
At the 2013 inquest into the death of Josh Lyons, a former Tottenham Hotspur youth-team player, the coroner, Dr Karen Henderson, criticised the game for not doing more to support young footballers dealing with being released.
—Colin Millar, New York Times, 27 June 2025
Almost two months after the devastating event, on June 10, 1891, a medical inquest took place where the various theories were debated in detail.
—Steve Wiser, Louisville Courier Journal, 24 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for inquest
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Sam Gillette, People.com, 24 July 2025
The inquest jury also rejected the police’s claim that the shooting of Jean Charles de Menezes was lawful.
—Barry Levitt, Time, 1 July 2025
At the 2013 inquest into the death of Josh Lyons, a former Tottenham Hotspur youth-team player, the coroner, Dr Karen Henderson, criticised the game for not doing more to support young footballers dealing with being released.
—Colin Millar, New York Times, 27 June 2025
Almost two months after the devastating event, on June 10, 1891, a medical inquest took place where the various theories were debated in detail.
—Steve Wiser, Louisville Courier Journal, 24 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for inquest
Cite this Entry
“Inquest.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/inquest. Accessed 5 Aug. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
inquest
noun
in·quest
ˈin-ˌkwest
: a judicial or official investigation
Medical Definition
inquest
noun
in·quest
ˈin-ˌkwest
: a judicial or official inquiry especially before a jury to determine the cause of a violent or unexpected death
a coroner's inquest
Legal Definition
inquest
noun
in·quest
ˈin-ˌkwest
1
: a judicial or official inquiry or examination often before a jury
a coroner's inquest
compare trial
2
: a body of people (as a jury) assembled to hold a judicial or official inquiry
also
: the finding of such an inquiry or the document recording it
Etymology
Anglo-French enqueste, from Old French, ultimately from Latin inquirere to ask about, from in- within, into + quaerere to seek
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