Word
inquiry
Phoneticsin·quiry
US/ˌɪnˈkwaɪˌɹi/
UK/ɪnkwˈaɪəɹi/
Definitions
01a question
B2 · Upper Intermediate Countable noun
n. a request for information or a question you ask to find out more about something.
n. the act of seeking information by asking questions; a specific query or request for data.
日本語:問い合わせ※
“We received an inquiry from a customer about the new delivery times.”
“The office was flooded with inquiries regarding the sudden change in the company's privacy policy.”
Usage
Often used with the preposition 'about' or 'into'.
02an investigation
C1 · Advanced Countable noun Law Formal
n. an official process to find out the facts about something, like an accident or a crime.
n. a formal or systematic investigation into a matter of public or legal concern.
日本語:調査※
“The government has launched an inquiry into the cause of the train crash.”
“A public inquiry was commissioned to determine whether the local authorities had followed safety protocols before the fire.”
Usage
Commonly follows the verbs 'launch', 'conduct', or 'hold'.
Synonyms
03academic research
C1 · Advanced Uncountable noun Science Academic
n. the process of studying a subject carefully to find out the truth.
n. the systematic search for truth, knowledge, or principles through study and research.
日本語:探究※
“Scientific inquiry helps us understand how the universe began.”
“The professor's work is a masterpiece of historical inquiry, shedding new light on the social structures of the medieval period.”
Synonyms
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “inquiry” in context.
Adjective
01. scientific inquiry
“The theory was developed through years of rigorous scientific inquiry and experimentation.”
adj + noun
02. inquiries please
03. inquiry into media
04. inquiry concluded
05. inquiry found
Real-World Examples
“For general inquiries, please use our contact form .” Etymology
From Middle English enquery, from the Old French verb enquerre, from Latin inquīrō, composed of in- (“in, at, on; into”) + quaerō (“I seek, look for”), of uncertain origin, but possibly from Proto-Italic kʷaizeō, from Proto-Indo-European kʷeh₂- (“to acquire”). Later respelled to conform to the original Latin spelling, as opposed to the Old French spelling.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
VERB
NOUN
ADJECTIVE
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Common
- Level
- B2 · Upper IntermediateOxford
- Updated
- アルファベット
- 読み方の一覧 →
QR code
englishreference.com/q/inquiry
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「日本語」 data: JMdict (EDRDG), CC BY-SA 4.0