# interrogation

/ˌɪnˌtɛɹəˈɡeɪʃən/ (US) · /ɪntˌɛɹəɡˈeɪʃən/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/interrogation
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. forceful questioning

noun · CEFR B2

the act of asking someone many questions for a long time, usually to get information or a confession.

For teachers: 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'.

### 2. a question mark

noun · CEFR C2 · Archaic

an old word for a question mark.

For teachers: 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'.

## Examples

- The police interrogation lasted for three hours.
- After the interrogation, the suspect was released without any charges being filed.
- The intense interrogation revealed inconsistencies in the witness's testimony, prompting investigators to reopen the cold case.

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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.