When an inquest is held, a public official hears evidence about someone's death in order to find out the cause.
The inquest into their deaths opened yesterday in Enniskillen. [+ into]
Synonyms: inquiry, investigation, probe, inquisition More Synonyms of inquest
2. countable noun [usually singular]
You can refer to an investigation by the people involved into the causes of a defeat or failure as an inquest.
His plea came last night as party chiefs held an inquest into the election disaster. [+ into]
inquest in British English
(ˈɪnˌkwɛst)
noun
1.
an inquiry into the cause of an unexplained, sudden, or violent death, or as to whether or not property constitutes treasure trove, held by a coroner, in certain cases with a jury
2. informal
any inquiry or investigation
Word origin
C13: from Medieval Latin inquēsta, from Latin in-2 + quaesītus investigation, from quaerere to examine
inquest in American English
(ˈɪnˌkwɛst)
noun
1.
a judicial inquiry, as a coroner's investigation of a death
2.
the jury or group holding such an inquiry
3.
the verdict of such an inquiry
Word origin
ME enqueste < OFr < VL *inquaesita, fem. pp. of *inquaerere: see inquire
COBUILD Collocations
inquest
adjourn an inquest
tell an inquest
Examples of 'inquest' in a sentence
inquest
There was therefore no inquest into this death.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
The assistant coroner adjourned the inquest to resume today.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
He had hanged himself with a rope, an inquest heard.
The Sun (2017)
An inquest found his death was the result of natural causes, after he suffered an epileptic fit.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
It was too toxic for her system and the nursery nurse died shortly afterwards, her inquest heard.
The Sun (2016)
The figures come after an inquest jury found last week that mental health services and the prison system had failed a man who electrocuted himself in prison.
Times, Sunday Times (2017)
An inquest into the deaths last month will open in Oxford on Thursday.
The Sun (2016)
At the inquest into his death another prisoner gave evidence.
Coyle, Andrew & Stern, Vivien The Prisons We Deserve (1994)
The inquest ended last night with a suicide verdict and criticism of cops by the jury.
The Sun (2009)
She did not give evidence at the inquest.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
The death has been reported to the coroner and an inquest will be held.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
Investigations and an inquest concluded that a poorly maintained set of points caused the crash.
The Sun (2012)
The inquests previously heard how ambulances deployed to the scene were sent to the wrong address.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
The inquest jury was presented with two starkly contrasting portraits of him.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
An inquest failed to find the cause of death and left open the possibility of murder.
The Sun (2012)
An inquest into the deaths opens today.
The Sun (2009)
He is due to give evidence at the inquest tomorrow.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
The case will now pass to the coroner for an inquest.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
Her death will be subject to an inquest and an investigation by the prisons watchdog.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
In one case the inquest jury returned an open verdict.
Coyle, Andrew & Stern, Vivien The Prisons We Deserve (1994)
An inquest into the deaths is due to open next week.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
Police are preparing a report for the coroner and an inquest will open soon.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
An inquest jury recorded a verdict of accidental death.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
These are the questions that a five-day inquest was considering last week with brutal frankness.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
An inquest and subsequent inquiry were critical of the MoD.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
Italy is over and done with, and the inquest last night was short and sweet.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
Instead of an inquest, an inquiry could be set up that could hear sensitive evidence in camera.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
An inquest last week heard she was five times the drink-drive limit when a bodyguard found her slumped dead on her bed.
The Sun (2011)
And at the inquest after a defeat, she'd at least have a leg to stand on.
The Sun (2007)
In other languages
inquest
British English: inquest /ˈɪnˌkwɛst/ NOUN
An inquest is an official inquiry into the cause of someone's death.
The inquest into their deaths began yesterday.
American English: inquest
Arabic: إِسْتِجْوابٌ
Brazilian Portuguese: inquérito
Chinese: 审讯
Croatian: istraga
Czech: soudní vyšetřování příčiny smrti
Danish: ligsyn
Dutch: gerechtelijk onderzoek
European Spanish: indagación judicial
Finnish: kuolinsyyntutkimus
French: enquête
German: gerichtliche Untersuchung der Todesursache
Greek: ανάκριση
Italian: inchiesta
Japanese: 検死審問
Korean: 심리 재판
Norwegian: likskue
Polish: śledztwo
European Portuguese: inquérito
Romanian: anchetă
Russian: следствие
Latin American Spanish: indagación
Swedish: undersökning
Thai: การสอบสวนสาเหตุที่เสียชีวิต
Turkish: soruşturma
Ukrainian: розслідування
Vietnamese: cuộc điều tra chính thức
Chinese translation of 'inquest'
inquest
(ˈɪnkwɛst)
n(c)
(on sb's death) 审(審)讯(訊) (shěnxùn)
(fig, into defeat, failure) 调(調)查 (diàochá) (次, cì)
(noun)
Definition
an official inquiry into an unexplained, sudden, or violent death, held by a coroner
The inquest into their deaths opened yesterday.
Synonyms
inquiry
a murder inquiry
investigation
He ordered an investigation into the affair.
probe
a federal grand-jury probe into corruption within the FDA
inquisition
He suffered a 40-minute inquisition in the press conference.
Additional synonyms
in the sense of inquisition
Definition
a thorough investigation
He suffered a 40-minute inquisition in the press conference.
Synonyms
investigation,
questioning,
examination,
inquiry,
grilling (informal),
quizzing,
inquest,
cross-examination,
third degree (informal)
in the sense of investigation
Definition
a careful search or examination in order to discover facts
He ordered an investigation into the affair.
Synonyms
examination,
study,
inquiry,
hearing,
research,
review,
search,
survey,
analysis,
probe,
inspection,
exploration,
scrutiny,
inquest,
fact finding,
recce (slang)
in the sense of probe
Definition
a thorough inquiry, such as one into corrupt practices
a federal grand-jury probe into corruption within the FDA