interrogation
noun
in·ter·ro·ga·tion
in-ˌter-ə-ˈgā-shən 
plural interrogations
: the act of interrogating someone or something: such as
a
: a formal and systematic questioning
She conducted a skillful interrogation of the witness.
It was old-fashioned interrogation and eavesdropping that first led U.S. intelligence agents to the … plotters.—
Michael Isikoff
Michael IsikoffAnd during interrogation, instead of just listening for inconsistencies in what is said, agents are being taught to look for minute physical reactions on the faces of people being questioned.—Ann Davis et al.
Ann Davis et al.
b
: the sending of an electronic signal intended to trigger a particular response from something (such as a transponder)
The airborne equipment measures the time between the interrogation and the return signal, and converts this time measurement into a mileage reading on our instrument panel, on either a dial or digital counter.—Joseph W. Benkert
Joseph W. BenkertExamples of interrogation in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The genre of true crime comes in for interrogation in both Predators, from director David Osit, and Zodiac Killer Project, directed by Charlie Shackleton.
—Matthew Carey, Deadline, 26 Feb. 2025
Former President Barack Obama, for example, ended the C.I.A. interrogation program started under former President George W. Bush but did not fire the officers accused of torturing Al Qaeda prisoners.
—Seamus Hughes, New York Times, 20 Feb. 2025
After a tense interrogation with Lee, Dale kills himself.
—Randall Colburn, EW.com, 19 Feb. 2025
Meantime there’s a mystery surrounding one of the patients James gets to know, an asthmatic young woman (Sidney Flanigan) whose ever-present mother (Rebecca Spence) doesn’t like James’ interrogation of her daughter’s peculiar treatment plan.
—Michael Phillips, Chicago Tribune, 13 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for interrogation
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Matthew Carey, Deadline, 26 Feb. 2025
Former President Barack Obama, for example, ended the C.I.A. interrogation program started under former President George W. Bush but did not fire the officers accused of torturing Al Qaeda prisoners.
—Seamus Hughes, New York Times, 20 Feb. 2025
After a tense interrogation with Lee, Dale kills himself.
—Randall Colburn, EW.com, 19 Feb. 2025
Meantime there’s a mystery surrounding one of the patients James gets to know, an asthmatic young woman (Sidney Flanigan) whose ever-present mother (Rebecca Spence) doesn’t like James’ interrogation of her daughter’s peculiar treatment plan.
—Michael Phillips, Chicago Tribune, 13 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for interrogation
Cite this Entry
“Interrogation.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/interrogation. Accessed 14 Mar. 2025.
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