inquest
noun
in·quest
ˈin-ˌkwest 
1
a
: a judicial or official inquiry or examination especially before a jury
a coroner's inquest
b
: a body of people (such as a jury) assembled to hold such an inquiry
c
: the finding of the jury upon such inquiry or the document recording it
2
Examples of inquest in a Sentence
The court has ordered an inquest into his death.
the police conducted an inquest into the case
Recent Examples on the Web
The grand jury recommended reviewing the length of investigations and recommended the District Attorney come to a decision about criminal charges within six months, and that the Sheriff hold inquests within the same timeframe.
—
Rick Hurd, Mercury News, 28 Mar. 2025
Italy wing-back Giovanni Di Lorenzo (No 22) started the inquest, pointing with his right arm and looking in the direction of his central-defender team-mate Alessandro Bastoni.
—Stuart James, The Athletic, 24 Mar. 2025
At the time of the inquest several experts in shipbuilding pointed out that Vasa didn’t have enough belly to support all those one and a half ton cannons, not to mention the crew and other gear.
—Sean Mowbray, Discover Magazine, 18 Feb. 2025
Daniels didn't have any additional information to add ahead of the inquest when contacted by PEOPLE.
—Becca Longmire, People.com, 20 Dec. 2024
See All Example Sentences for inquest
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Rick Hurd, Mercury News, 28 Mar. 2025
Italy wing-back Giovanni Di Lorenzo (No 22) started the inquest, pointing with his right arm and looking in the direction of his central-defender team-mate Alessandro Bastoni.
—Stuart James, The Athletic, 24 Mar. 2025
At the time of the inquest several experts in shipbuilding pointed out that Vasa didn’t have enough belly to support all those one and a half ton cannons, not to mention the crew and other gear.
—Sean Mowbray, Discover Magazine, 18 Feb. 2025
Daniels didn't have any additional information to add ahead of the inquest when contacted by PEOPLE.
—Becca Longmire, People.com, 20 Dec. 2024
See All Example Sentences for inquest
Cite this Entry
“Inquest.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/inquest. Accessed 16 Apr. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
inquest
noun
in·quest
ˈin-ˌkwest
: a judicial or official investigation
Medical Definition
inquest
noun
in·quest
ˈin-ˌkwest
: a judicial or official inquiry especially before a jury to determine the cause of a violent or unexpected death
a coroner's inquest
Legal Definition
inquest
noun
in·quest
ˈin-ˌkwest
1
: a judicial or official inquiry or examination often before a jury
a coroner's inquest
compare trial
2
: a body of people (as a jury) assembled to hold a judicial or official inquiry
also
: the finding of such an inquiry or the document recording it
Etymology
Anglo-French enqueste, from Old French, ultimately from Latin inquirere to ask about, from in- within, into + quaerere to seek
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share