Word
interrogation
Phoneticsin·ter·ro·ga·tion, stress on the fourth syllable
US/ˌɪnˌtɛɹəˈɡeɪʃən/
UK/ɪntˌɛɹəɡˈeɪʃən/
Definitions
01forceful questioning
B2 · Upper Intermediate Countable noun Law
n. the act of asking someone many questions for a long time, usually to get information or a confession.
n. the formal and systematic questioning of a suspect or witness, often conducted under pressure or in a legal context.
“The suspect was taken to the police station for a long interrogation.”
“After six hours of intense interrogation, the detective finally managed to uncover the inconsistencies in the witness's original statement.”
Usage
Often used with the verbs 'conduct', 'undergo', or 'subject to'.
Synonyms
02a question mark
C2 · Proficiency Countable noun Archaic
n. an old word for a question mark.
n. a punctuation mark used at the end of a sentence to indicate a question.
“In the old manuscript, every question ended with a strange interrogation.”
“The scribe had placed a formal interrogation at the end of the sentence to ensure the reader understood the rising intonation required.”
Teaching tip
This sense is archaic; modern speakers and writers exclusively use 'question mark'.
Synonyms
Real-World Examples
“Zin said US officials had told her that Min Zin was being subjected to up to six hours of interrogations each day when he first arrived in jail.” “You’d be in a room with a one-way mirror, like an interrogation room.” Etymology
From Middle English interrogacion, from Old French interrogacion, from Latin interrogātiō, from interrogō, from inter- (“between; among”) + rogō (“to ask; to request”). Equivalent to inter- + rogation or interrogate + -ion.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
VERB
NOUN
- 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
- Frequent
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
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englishreference.com/q/interrogation