WordValeinterrogatory
a formal written question that must be answered under oath
In more detail
1. (noun) a question, especially one asked formally or in a legal context
2. (adjective) asking a question or expressing a question; having the form or nature of a question
Examples
- 1. The witness faced a series of interrogatories during the deposition.
- 2. She gave him an interrogatory look, waiting for an explanation.
How to use interrogatory
Interrogatory is a formal and somewhat technical term, used most commonly in legal contexts where it refers to written questions posed by one party to another during discovery. As an adjective, it describes the grammatical form or tone of a question, particularly in formal or linguistic analysis. It is notably more formal than the simple word 'question' and carries a sense of official inquiry or challenge.
Common phrases
- interrogatory sentence
- interrogatory form
- file an interrogatory
- serve interrogatories
- interrogatory tone
Synonyms
question · inquiry · query · examination · challenge
Word family
interrogate · interrogation · interrogator · interrogatively
A common mistake
Learners sometimes confuse 'interrogatory' with 'interrogative' (the standard linguistic term for questions), though the two are closely related and 'interrogatory' is actually the older form.
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