inquiry
inquiry Lexical Profile
inquiry Game Scores & Validity
• noun
An act of asking for information; a question or request for details.
"The customer service department received dozens of inquiries about the new product launch."
An official or systematic investigation into a matter of public interest or a specific event.
"The committee launched a formal inquiry into the causes of the train derailment."
The intellectual process of seeking truth, knowledge, or understanding through study and research.
"Scientific inquiry relies on observation, hypothesis testing, and rigorous peer review."
Word Nuance & Usage
While 'inquiry' and 'enquiry' are interchangeable in American English (with 'inquiry' strongly preferred), British English often distinguishes between 'enquiry' for a general question and 'inquiry' for a formal investigation.
• Rhymes for inquiry
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
From Middle English 'enquiri', borrowed from Anglo-Norman and Old French, and later re-formed after Latin 'inquirere' ('to seek into'), from 'in-' ('into') and 'quaerere' ('to ask, seek').