Definition

1. Noun:
   • The act or process of investigating; a systematic examination or inquiry: A detailed and careful study to discover and examine facts, gather information, or establish the truth about something.
   • A formal inquiry or examination, especially by an official body: An official process, often conducted by authorities like the police or a government committee, to find out the causes of an incident or the details of a crime.

Examples of Usage

• Noun:
  • The police launched an investigation into the robbery.
  • Scientific investigation is crucial for medical progress.
  • The committee's investigation revealed significant financial irregularities.

Advanced Usage

• "Under investigation": Being officially examined or inquired into.
  • The company's accounting practices are currently under investigation.
• "Preliminary investigation": An initial inquiry to determine if a full investigation is warranted.
  • A preliminary investigation found enough evidence to proceed with a formal case.
• "To conduct/carry out an investigation": To perform the process of investigating.
  • The agency was tasked with conducting a thorough investigation.

Variants and Related Words

• Investigate (verb): To carry out a systematic or formal inquiry.
  • Detectives will investigate the crime scene.
• Investigative (adjective): Relating to or characterized by investigation.
  • She works in investigative journalism.
• Investigator (noun): A person who investigates.
  • The lead investigator presented the findings.

Synonyms

• Examination: A detailed inspection or scrutiny.
• Inquiry: A process of asking questions to gather information.
• Probe: A thorough and penetrating investigation, often official.
• Scrutiny: Critical observation or examination.

Related Phrases

• Internal investigation: An inquiry conducted within an organization about its own practices.
  • The bank initiated an internal investigation following the allegations.
• Criminal investigation: An official inquiry conducted by law enforcement into a potential crime.
  • The criminal investigation is being led by the federal bureau.

Related Idioms

• To leave no stone unturned (in an investigation): To try every possible course of action to find something out.
  • The detectives left no stone unturned in their investigation of the missing person's case.

Noun

1. the work of inquiring into something thoroughly and systematically
2. an inquiry into unfamiliar or questionable activities
   • there was a congressional probe into the scandal