Definition

1. Noun:
   • The formal or systematic act of questioning someone, often in a detailed, persistent, or aggressive manner, especially by authorities to obtain information or a confession. This is the most common meaning, referring to the process itself.
   • A single question or a series of questions posed in such a manner. It can refer to the specific utterance.
   • (In telecommunications and computing) A signal sent to trigger a response from a device, such as a transponder.

Examples of Usage

• Noun (Act of questioning):
  • The suspect was taken in for police interrogation.
  • The lawyer objected to the harsh methods used during the interrogation.
• Noun (A question):
  • His interrogation was met with silence. (Here, "interrogation" means his specific question.)
• Noun (Technical):
  • The radar sends out an interrogation, and the aircraft's transponder replies with its identity.

Advanced Usage

• "To be under interrogation": to be the subject of formal questioning.
  • The witness was under interrogation for three hours.
• "Point of interrogation": an archaic term for a question mark (?).

Variants and Related Words

• Interrogate (verb): to ask questions formally and systematically.
  • The detective will interrogate the witness.
• Interrogative (adjective): having the form or force of a question.
  • She used an interrogative tone.
• Interrogator (noun): a person who interrogates.
  • The interrogator remained calm throughout the session.

Synonyms

• Questioning: the act of asking questions.
• Grilling: (informal) intensive and harsh questioning.
• Cross-examination: questioning, especially in a court, to test the truth of answers already given.
• Inquiry: a systematic investigation or a question.

Related Phrases

• Interrogation room: a room where formal questioning, especially by police, takes place.
  • They led him into the interrogation room.

Related Idioms

• None are directly based on the single word "interrogation." Common idioms use the verb form "interrogate," such as "to interrogate the data," meaning to examine it critically.

Noun

1. an instance of questioning
   • there was a question about my training
   • we made inquiries of all those who were present
2. formal systematic questioning
3. a transmission that will trigger an answering transmission from a transponder
4. a sentence of inquiry that asks for a reply
   • he asked a direct question
   • he had trouble phrasing his interrogations