# enquiry

/ɪnˈkwaɪˌɹi/ (US) · /ɛnkwˈaɪəɹi/ (UK) · CEFR B2 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/enquiry
Updated: 2026-05-02

## Definition

a question you ask to get information about something. It can also be an official study to find out the truth about a problem.

For teachers: a request for information or a formal investigation into a specific matter. Often used in British English as the standard spelling for both general questions and official proceedings.

## Examples

- I sent an enquiry to the hotel about their room rates.
- The government has launched a public enquiry to determine the cause of the recent rail accident.
- Despite several formal enquiries regarding the status of the application, the department remained silent for over three months, citing a backlog of administrative tasks.

## Pitfalls

- Not "make an enquiry for the price" but "make an enquiry about the price" — When asking for information, the noun is typically followed by 'about' or 'regarding' rather than 'for'.

## Usage notes

- Commonly takes the preposition 'into' for formal investigations or 'about' for general questions.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.