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
Nearly a decade after the second acquittal, which was decided by Italy's highest court, the Supreme Court of Cassation, Knox returned to Italy for another trial on slander charges related to the initial interrogation.
—Amaris Encinas, USA Today, 20 Aug. 2025
The film was also criticized for its on-screen nudity during an infamous interrogation scene.
—Rachel Raposas, People.com, 19 Aug. 2025
Producers include Susan Zirinsky and Terence Wrong from See it Now Studios, Alex Gibney, Brad Hebert and Ahmad Sharifi for Jigsaw Productions (Gibney’s Oscar-winning documentary Taxi to the Dark Side investigated torture and interrogation tactics used by the American military in Afghanistan).
—Matthew Carey, Deadline, 13 Aug. 2025
School staff should attempt to contact the student's parent or guardian if law enforcement wishes to question a student on school grounds, and if the parent is unable to be in the room with the student during the interrogation, then a building administrator or other designee will be there.
—Madeline Mitchell, The Enquirer, 2 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for interrogation
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Amaris Encinas, USA Today, 20 Aug. 2025
The film was also criticized for its on-screen nudity during an infamous interrogation scene.
—Rachel Raposas, People.com, 19 Aug. 2025
Producers include Susan Zirinsky and Terence Wrong from See it Now Studios, Alex Gibney, Brad Hebert and Ahmad Sharifi for Jigsaw Productions (Gibney’s Oscar-winning documentary Taxi to the Dark Side investigated torture and interrogation tactics used by the American military in Afghanistan).
—Matthew Carey, Deadline, 13 Aug. 2025
School staff should attempt to contact the student's parent or guardian if law enforcement wishes to question a student on school grounds, and if the parent is unable to be in the room with the student during the interrogation, then a building administrator or other designee will be there.
—Madeline Mitchell, The Enquirer, 2 July 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 23 Aug. 2025.
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