# inquiry

/ˌɪnˈkwaɪˌɹi/ (US) · /ɪnkwˈaɪəɹi/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/inquiry
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. a question

noun · CEFR B2

a request for information or a question you ask to find out more about something.

For teachers: the act of seeking information by asking questions; a specific query or request for data.

- 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'.

### 2. an investigation

noun · CEFR C1 · Formal

an official process to find out the facts about something, like an accident or a crime.

For teachers: a formal or systematic investigation into a matter of public or legal concern.

- 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'.

### 3. academic research

noun · CEFR C1 · Academic

the process of studying a subject carefully to find out the truth.

For teachers: the systematic search for truth, knowledge, or principles through study and research.

- 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.

## Examples

- The police opened an inquiry into the missing money.
- The company received a formal inquiry from the tax office regarding their recent international transactions.
- Following the public outcry, the government launched an independent inquiry to determine whether the safety regulations had been systematically ignored by the construction firm.

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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.