inquestin‧quest /ˈɪŋkwest/ noun [countable] 
The coroner will hold an inquest into the deaths. The inquest heard that she died from multiple injuries.2an unofficial discussion about the reasons for someone’s defeat or failure to do somethinginquest into The Tories will hold a private inquest into why they were defeated.
WORD ORIGINinquest
Origin:
1300-1400 Old French enqueste, from Latin inquirere; ➔ INQUIREEXAMPLES FROM OTHER DICTIONARIES
- an inquest into the death of a 54-year-old woman
- An inquest will be held into the actor's death.
- The inquest heard that Mr Bovary was found hanging by a rope in his bedroom.
- The inquest ruled the cause of death was suicide.
THESAURUS
a process in which the police or another organization try to find out the truth about a crime or accident: · Following a major police investigation, two men were arrested.· The investigation into the causes of the air crash are continuing.
an official process to find out why something happened, which usually takes several months or years: · Local people are calling for an inquiry into the accident.· An independent inquiry found serious shortcomings at the children’s home.
a matter that police or officials are trying to find out information about, especially so that it can be dealt with in a court of law: · The case has never been solved.· The police say it is one of the most puzzling cases they have had to deal with.
an investigation in which many questions are asked to find out the truth about something – used especially in journalism: · The TV show featured a probe into charges charged by high street banks.
a legal investigation to find out why someone died: · The inquest heard that Mr Swan was poisoned.
a process in which people are asked questions in order to find out about their opinions or about their behaviour: · They did a survey to find out the most popular pop star.· Based on a survey of 250 companies, the report says that ‘ over two thirds of companies expect operating costs to increase as a result of addressing environmental issues.
British English a medical examination of a dead person’s body, to find out why that person died: · If she died of a drug overdose, it would show up in the autopsy.
Longman Language Activatorthe process of finding out about something a process by which the police or another official organization tries to find out the truth about a crime or accident: · Following a major police investigation, two men have been arrested.investigation into: · The investigation into the cause of the air crash is continuing.carry out an investigation: · Prison officials are carrying out a full investigation after two prisoners escaped from a prison vehicle.full/thorough investigation: · The Senator promised a thorough investigation into the fund-raising activities of both parties.
also enquiry British a series of official meetings at which people try to find out why something happened: · The inquiry will be supervised by a senior judge.inquiry into: · Local people are calling for an inquiry into the accident.hold an inquiry: · An inquiry will be held to discover why the school's educational record is so bad.
a legal process in Britain to find out why someone died: · The inquest heard that Mr Bovary was found hanging by a rope in his bedroom.inquest into: · an inquest into the death of a 54-year-old womanhold an inquest: · An inquest will be held into the actor's death.
/post mortem British a medical examination of a dead person's body, done in order to officially find out why the person died: · If she died of a drug overdose, it will show up in the autopsy.· The post mortem revealed that the man had been shot in the back.
WORD SETSaccess, nounacquit, verbacquittal, nounactionable, adjectiveact of God, nounadjourn, verbadminister, verbadmissible, adjectiveADR, nounadversarial, adjectiveadvocate, nounaffidavit, nounage, nounaggrieved, adjectiveagreement, nounannual return, anti-dumping, adjectiveantitrust, adjectiveAppeal Court, nounappear, verbappellate court, nounarraign, verbarticled clerk, articles of association, nounassignee, nounassizes, nounattachment, nounattest, verbattorney, nounattorney-at-law, nounattorney general, nounaverage clause, bailable, adjectivebailee, nounbailiff, nounbailment, nounban, nounbarrister, nounbeneficial owner, beneficiary, nounbequeath, verbbequest, nounbest efforts, adjectivebid-rigging, nounbill, nounbill of rights, nounblue law, nounbody corporate, bond, nounbook, verbbox, nounbreakdown clause, break fee, brief, nounbroker's lien, burden of proof, nounbusiness entity, buyer's risk, bylaw, nouncabotage, nouncadastre, nouncase, nouncase law, nouncash shell, nouncause, nouncause célèbre, nouncause of action, nouncaution, nouncaution, verbcertificate of incorporation, nouncertificate of protest, nouncertificate of search, nounchain of title, nounchallenge, nounchallenge, verbchancery, nounChapter 7, nouncharge, nouncharge, verbcharges register, chief justice, nouncircuit court, nouncite, verbcitizen's arrest, nouncivil, adjectivecivil law, nounclaim, nounclaimant, nounclass action, nounclause, nounclean, adjectivecloud on title, nouncollusion, nouncommerce clause, committal, nouncommon law, nouncommunity property, nounCommunity Reinvestment Act, nouncommutation, nounCompanies House, nouncompanies registry, company limited by guarantee, nouncompany limited by shares, nouncompany officer, competence, nouncompetent, adjectivecomplainant, nouncompletion, nouncompletion date, compliance officer, compulsory purchase, nounconditional discharge, nouncondition precedent, nouncondition subsequent, nounconduct money, confidentiality clause, confirmation hearing, conflict of laws, nounconjugal, adjectiveconsensus ad idem, nounconsent decree, consenting adult, nounconservator, nounconstituted, adjectiveconstitution, nounconstitutional, adjectiveconstitutionality, nouncontempt, nouncontest, verbcontingency fee, contract of insurance, nouncontract of purchase, nouncontract of service, nouncontravene, verbcontravention, nouncontributory negligence, nounconvey, verbconveyance, nounconveyancing, nounconvict, verbconviction, nouncopyright, nounco-respondent, nouncosignatory, nouncounsel, nouncounty court, nouncourthouse, nouncourt-martial, nouncourt-martial, verbCourt of Appeal, nounCourt of Appeals, nouncourt of inquiry, nouncourt of law, nounCourt of Queen's Bench, nouncourt order, nouncourt reporter, nouncourtroom, nouncramdown, nouncriminal, adjectivecriminal injury, criminalize, verbcriminal law, nouncross-examine, verbCrown Court, nouncurfew, nouncustodial, adjectiveD.A., noundata protection, death sentence, noundeath warrant, noundeclaration of association, noundecree, noundecree absolute, noundecree nisi, noundecriminalize, verbdeed, noundeed of conveyance, noundefalcation, noundefend, verbdefendant, noundeficiency judgment, noundeficiency judgment, de jure, adjectivedeposition, noundeputy, nounderivative lease, desertion, noundiminished responsibility, noundiplomatic immunity, noundirectors register, disabled quota, disbar, verbdischarge of contract, noundisclaim, verbdisclaimer, noundiscretionary, adjectivedisinherit, verbdismiss, verbdispense, verbdisposition, noundispossess, verbdissent, noundissolution, noundistrain, verbdistrict attorney, noundistrict court, noundivorce, noundivorce, verbdivorced, adjectivedocket, noundonee, noundouble jeopardy, noundraftsman, noundrink-driving, noundrunk driving, noundue process, nounduress, nouneasement, nounedict, nouneffective, adjectiveeminent domain, nounempower, verbenabling, adjectiveenabling clause, enact, verbendowment, nounenforced, adjectiveenjoin, verbescape clause, escrow, nounescrow agent, estate, nounestoppel, nounevidence, nounexamination, nounexamination-in-chief, nounexamine, verbexculpate, verbexecute, verbexecutor, nounexecutrix, nounexhibit, nounexpectations, nounex post facto law, nounexpropriate, verbextradite, verbextrajudicial, adjectivefair dealing, false representation, nounfee absolute, nounfiduciary, nounfiduciary, adjectivefinding, nounfirm name, nounfixtures and fittings, nounforce majeure, nounforeman, nounforewoman, nounfreeholder, nounfree pardon, nounfrustration of contract, fugitive, nounfugitive, adjectivegagging order, gag order, noungarnishee, verbgarnishee, noungeneral counsel, noungeneral practice, noungive, verbgrand jury, noungrantee, noungrantor, noungreen paper, noungross misconduct, ground rent, nounguarantee, verbguarantor, nounguaranty, nounguillotine, verbguilt, noungun control, nounhabeas corpus, nounHague Rules, nounhear, verbhearing, nounheir, nounheir apparent, nounhereafter, adverbhereditament, nounhereinafter, adverbhereof, adverbhereto, adverbheritable, adjectiveHigh Court, nounHighway Code, nounhirer, nounhuman right, nounimplied term, inadmissible, adjectiveinalienable, adjectiveincriminate, verbindemnify, verbindemnity, nounindict, verbindictable, adjectiveindictment, nounindustrial tribunal, nouninitiative, nouninjunction, nounin loco parentis, adverbinnocence, nouninnocent, adjectiveinoperative, adjectiveinquest, nouninsanity, nouninstruct, verbintellectual property, nounintent, nouninterdict, nouninterlocutory injunction, invoke, verbJane Doe, nounjob quota, joint and several liability, JP, nounjudge, nounjudge, verbjudicial, adjectivejuridical, adjectivejurisdiction, nounjurisprudence, nounjurist, nounjuror, nounjury, nounjury box, nounjury service, nounjustice, nounJustice of the Peace, nounjustifiable homicide, nounjuvenile, adjectivekangaroo court, nounKing's Counsel, nounlaw firm, nounlawyer, nounlease, nounleasehold, adjectiveleaseholder, nounlegatee, nounlegator, nounlessee, nounlessor, nounletters of administration, nounliable, adjectivelicensee, nounlien, nounlienee, nounlienor, nounlimited liability, nounliquidated damages, litigant, nounlitigate, verblitigation, nounlitigator, nounlitigious, adjectiveliving will, nounloophole, nounmagisterial, adjectivemagistracy, nounmagistrate, nounMagistrates' Court, nounmaintenance, nounmajority, nounmalfeasance, nounmalpractice, nounmarriage certificate, nounmarriage licence, nounmarriage lines, nounmaterial, adjectivematerial fact, nounmemorandum, nounmiscarriage of justice, nounmisdirect, verbmisfeasance, nounmisstatement, nounmistrial, nounM'lord, nounM'lud, nounmoiety, nounmonies, nounmoot court, nounmoratorium, nounmovable, nounno-fault, adjectivenolo contendere, nounnonfeasance, nounnon-negotiable, adjectivenotary, nounnuisance, nounnullify, verbnullity, nounoath, nounopen-and-shut case, nounopen verdict, nounoperative mistake, nounordinance, nounoriginating application, originating summons, outlaw, nounout-of-court settlement, nounoyez, interjectionpalimony, nounpanel, nounparalegal, nounpardon, verbpardon, nounparty, nounpass, verbpassage, nounpatent, nounpatent, adjectivepaternity, nounpaternity suit, nounpatrimony, nounpenal code, nounpenalty, nounperformance contract, perjury, nounpersonal injury, personal representative, personalty, nounpetition, nounpetition, verbpetitioner, nounplaintiff, nounplanning permission, nounplea bargaining, nounpleadings, nounpledgee, nounpolice, verbpositive discrimination, nounpower of attorney, nounprecedent, nounprejudice, verbpreservation order, nounpresume, verbprice-fixing, nounprima facie, adjectiveprimary residence, prime tenant, primogeniture, nounprivate law, nounprivileged, adjectiveprivity, nounprobate, nounprobate, verbprobation, nounprobationer, nounprobation officer, nounpro bono, adjectiveprocedural, adjectiveproceeding, nounproceedings, nounprohibit, verbprohibition, nounprohibitive, adjectivepromulgate, verbpronounce, verbproposition, nounproscribe, verbprosecute, verbprosecution, nounprosecutor, nounprotective custody, nounprove, verbprovision, nounprovisional licence, nounproximate cause, nounpublic defender, nounpublic prosecutor, nounpublic service vehicle, punishable, adjectiveQC, nounquarter sessions, nounquash, verbQueen's Counsel, nounreal property, nounrecess, nounrecess, verbrecognition, nounrecognizance, nounrecorder, nounreeve, nounregulation, nounremand, verbremand, nounrepeal, verbrescind, verbrespondent, nounrestoration, nounrestore, verbretainer, nounretrial, nounretroactive, adjectiveretrospective, adjectiveretry, verbreversion, nounrevocation, nounrevoke, verbRex, nounright of appeal, nounroad tax, nounroot of title, royalty payment, rule, verbruling, nounsaid, adjectivesalami slicing, nounSarbanes-Oxley Act, nounscheme of arrangement, nounsentence, nounsentence, verbsequester, verbsession, nounsettlement date, settlement terms, shall, modal verbshell company, sheriff, nounsheriff court, nounshow trial, nounsitting tenant, nounsmall claims court, nounsolicitor, nounsolicitor general, nounSOX, nounspecial licence, nounspecific performance, speed limit, nounstakeholder, nounstate attorney, nounstate court, nounstated case, statute, nounstatute law, nounstatute of limitations, nounstatutory, adjectivestatutory report, stay, nounstay of execution, nounstipendiary magistrate, nounstoppage in transit, nounsub judice, adverbsubmission, nounsuborn, verbsubpoena, nounsubpoena, verbsue, verbsuit, nounsumming up, nounsumming-up, nounsummons, nounsummons, verbSupreme Court, nounsurety, nounsuspended sentence, nounswear, verbtechnicality, nountenant at sufferance, nountenant at will, nountenant for years, nountenant in common, nountenure, nountestament, nountestator, nountest case, nountest certificate, nountestify, verbtestimony, nounthereinafter, adverbthird party, nounthrough, prepositionticket, nounticket, verbtitle, nountitle deed, nountitle holder, nountort, nountradename, nounTrading Standards, treasure trove, nountrespass, verbtrespass, nountrial, nountrust for sale, nounultra vires, adjectiveunderwriting power, undue influence, noununlicensed, adjectiveuphold, verbverdict, nounvindicate, verbvisa, nounvoucher, nounward, nounwarrant, nounwhereas, conjunctionwill, nounwill, verbwinding up, nounwitness, nounwitness, verbwitness box, nounwrit, nounwrongful termination,
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE ENTRY The coroner will hold an inquest into the deaths. The Tories will hold a private inquest into why they were defeated.COLLOCATIONS FROM OTHER ENTRIES
1a legal process to find out the cause of someone’s deathinquest into The coroner will hold an inquest into the deaths. The Tories will hold a private inquest into why they were defeated. (=one that decides the cause of someone's death)· The inquest jury decided that he died accidentally by falling out of a train door.
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE CORPUSNOUN· The inquest jury returned an open verdict because of conflicting evidence.· The inquest jury was only able to say John Newton died accidentally by falling through a carriage door.· After initial indecision, the inquest jury delivered a verdict of lawful killing.· Read in studio An inquest jury has returned an open verdict on the death of a baby girl killed at a playgroup.· The inquest jury viewed a ten minute video showing the scene of the shooting.· At the end of a four-hour hearing, the inquest jury returned a verdict of death by misadventure.
VERB· Coroner Nicholas Gardiner opened and adjourned the inquest for two weeks so that funerals can be held.· Cleveland deputy coroner Ronald Smith adjourned the inquest.· The coroner adjourned the inquest after he was told that Mrs Probyn's husband Jonathan had been charged with her murder.· Cleveland coroner Michael Sheffield adjourned the inquest pending further inquiries.· Mr Turnbull adjourned the inquest, which was not attended by relatives of the victims, to a date to be fixed.· Inquest adjourned: An inquest into the death of a toddler has been adjourned.
· Forest townships were compelled to pay the warden large sums of money if they did not attend Forest inquests at his summons.· Voice over Mrs Garvey's uncle Richard Moore, who formally identified the bodies, attended the inquest.· Ten soldiers had not been compelled to give evidence and had indicated they would not attend the inquest.· The couple were ordered to attend the inquest but refused to answer any questions on the advice of their solicitors.· His parents, who lives at Cowley near Gloucester, were the only relatives or friends to attend his inquest at Tewkesbury.
· Today lawyers acting for 6 families asked the Oxford coroner to hear the inquest into their deaths with a jury.
· He had to decide whether or not to hold an inquest.· On 11 August 1989 the coroner replied, declining to hold an inquest.· Form 22 itself indicates that it is appropriate to hold an inquest in a case of death by natural causes.· In such a case a coroner has a mandatory obligation to hold an inquest.· She sought a declaration that the coroner had a duty to hold an inquest into the death.
· Coroner Nicholas Gardiner opened and adjourned the inquest for two weeks so that funerals can be held.· I intend to open the inquest on Monday, the seventh.· And Cheshire coroner John Hibbert is also due to open an inquest today.· Inquest opens: An inquest opened yesterday on two teenagers who died in an old quarry pond.
· In a statement read to the inquest he said Gary knew he would not survive his injuries.· Loretta wondered if it had not been read out at the inquest.· With the specialist's contempt for the layman's ignorance, Rufus read accounts of the inquest in two newspapers.· He left a note explaining his action and it was read out at the inquest.
· One couple who'd been there told the inquest they saw the plane flying low, coughing and spluttering.· They told the inquest the same thing.· He told the inquest he remembered nothing about what happened in the crash.· But Mrs Jeffrey told the inquest her son didn't drive, and the only petrol can in the house was empty.· For most of that time she was in labour and great pain, she told an inquest this afternoon.· His wife Fenella told the Huntingdon inquest her husband had been extremely conscientious in his 18 years with Barclays.
The coroner will hold an inquest into the deaths. The inquest heard that she died from multiple injuries.2an unofficial discussion about the reasons for someone’s defeat or failure to do somethinginquest into The Tories will hold a private inquest into why they were defeated.