inquiry
- 01 B2 Upper Intermediate
a request for information or a question you ask to find out more about something.
the act of seeking information by asking questions; a specific query or request for data.
Simple“We received an inquiry from a customer about the new delivery times.”
In context“The office was flooded with inquiries regarding the sudden change in the company's privacy policy.”
UsageOften used with the preposition 'about' or 'into'.
- 02 C1 Advanced
an official process to find out the facts about something, like an accident or a crime.
a formal or systematic investigation into a matter of public or legal concern.
Simple“The government has launched an inquiry into the cause of the train crash.”
In context“A public inquiry was commissioned to determine whether the local authorities had followed safety protocols before the fire.”
UsageCommonly follows the verbs 'launch', 'conduct', or 'hold'.
Synonyms - 03 C1 Advanced
the process of studying a subject carefully to find out the truth.
the systematic search for truth, knowledge, or principles through study and research.
Simple“Scientific inquiry helps us understand how the universe began.”
In context“The professor's work is a masterpiece of historical inquiry, shedding new light on the social structures of the medieval period.”
Synonyms
Usage inquiries please · scientific inquiry · inquiry into media
“For general inquiries, please use our contact form .”
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.