interrogation
noun
in·ter·ro·ga·tion
in-ˌter-ə-ˈgā-shən 
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
Michael IsikoffAnd 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.
Ann Davis et al.
b
: the sending of an electronic signal intended to trigger a particular response from something (such as a transponder)
A transponder will send an identifying coded signal in response to a transmitted interrogation …—Jim Sparks
Jim SparksThe 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
Joseph W. BenkertExamples of interrogation in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The cops posted outside of the nearby Swarovski and PINK stores are similarly unwilling to entertain my interrogations.
—
Fran Hoepfner,
Vulture,
4 July 2026
Integrity is crucial, fostering trust and vulnerability among guests, with Witt prioritizing active listening over interrogation to allow genuine stories to unfold.
—
Doug Melville,
Forbes.com,
2 July 2026
Turn the page Bell appearance before the Board of Governors on Wednesday bore little resemblance to the three-hour interrogation Santa Ono endured a year earlier.
—
Garrett Shanley,
Miami Herald,
1 July 2026
In 1536, after 16 months in prison and interrogation by the Catholic Inquisition, he was executed for heresy in what is now Belgium.
—
Michael Bruening,
The Conversation,
30 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for interrogation
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Fran Hoepfner,
Vulture,
4 July 2026
Integrity is crucial, fostering trust and vulnerability among guests, with Witt prioritizing active listening over interrogation to allow genuine stories to unfold.
—
Doug Melville,
Forbes.com,
2 July 2026
Turn the page Bell appearance before the Board of Governors on Wednesday bore little resemblance to the three-hour interrogation Santa Ono endured a year earlier.
—
Garrett Shanley,
Miami Herald,
1 July 2026
In 1536, after 16 months in prison and interrogation by the Catholic Inquisition, he was executed for heresy in what is now Belgium.
—
Michael Bruening,
The Conversation,
30 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for interrogation
Cite this Entry
“Interrogation.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/interrogation. Accessed 5 Jul. 2026.
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