inquisitorial

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An inquisitorial process involves asking many questions and seeking information to find out what really happened. Imagine being interviewed by someone trying to get all the details of an incident.

When we talk about inquisitorial, we often think about a certain way of conducting investigations or trials. In law courts, for example, some countries have an inquisitorial system where judges ask many questions and are involved directly with gathering facts. This is different from an adversarial system, where lawyers question witnesses on behalf of their clients. The idea behind inquisitorial is to get at the truth through thorough questioning, often involving a more active role by the person or body doing the investigation.

How common is "inquisitorial"?

Word inquisitorial is considered rare in modern English.
It appears most frequently in academic texts and less often in other writings.
Definitions

adjective

  • Of or pertaining to an inquisition, specifically the Inquisition.

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Real examples of "inquisitorial" in context

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