1. a severe or intensive questioning or investigation
2. a former Roman Catholic tribunal for investigating and prosecuting heresy
Usage: historical

Examples

• The job interview felt like an inquisition with all the detailed questions.
• She faced an inquisition from her parents about where she had been.
• The Spanish Inquisition was established in 1478.
• The committee’s inquisition into the scandal lasted for months.
• He dreaded the inquisition that would follow his late arrival home.
• The Inquisition used various methods to identify heretics.
• The reporter’s inquisition revealed several inconsistencies in the story.