in·ter·rog·a·to·ry
ˌin-tə-ˈrä-gə-ˌtȯr-ē 
plural interrogatories
: a formal question or inquiry
especially
: a written question required to be answered under direction of a court
Examples of interrogatory in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Virginia Hammerle, Dallas News, 10 May 2023
The objection also said Alabama law restricts questions, or interrogatories, to 40 without the court’s permission to go beyond that limit.
—Paul Gattis | Pgattis@al.com, al, 20 Apr. 2023
In the district court, Clinton was ordered to respond to interrogatories.
—Andrew C. McCarthy, National Review, 14 Apr. 2020
Along those lines, various persons in Williamson’s orbit could be forced to answer questions in depositions and through interrogatories.
—Michael McCann, SI.com, 22 Aug. 2019
During it, Brown and Taylor would be required to answer questions under oath, either in depositions (in-person answers) or interrogatories (written answers).
—Michael McCann, SI.com, 11 Sep. 2019
The result threw a spotlight on special interrogatories, a common feature in civil trials, according to veteran lawyers.
—Dan Hinkel, chicagotribune.com, 29 June 2018
This vetting will include interrogatories, a public hearing and an evidentiary hearing.
—Allan Vought, The Aegis, 28 June 2018
If strong enough to survive those first interrogatories, they will be interviewed by an asylum officer who will run a rough interview that emphasizes preventing fraud and often mistakenly determines that a person shouldn't receive asylum.
—Luis Mancheno, CBS News, 8 June 2018
Carmel Dagan, Variety, 30 Dec. 2022
His interrogatory path in our reciprocal dance was not the typical name-rank-serial-number route my heart would have read as a plain vanilla checklist from a communications textbook.
—Chip Bell, Forbes, 12 July 2022
Minister Chiang gave the orderly a long, interrogatory look.
—Elliot Ackerman, Wired, 2 Mar. 2021
But Thornton had also figured out that his character’s power came not from fiercely interrogatory tactics but from apparent empathy and even his warm heart.
—Chris Jones, chicagotribune.com, 21 Dec. 2017
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Noun
This might come in the form of a request for production of documents or things, a request for admissions, interrogatories or even a notice to take your deposition.
—Virginia Hammerle, Dallas News, 10 May 2023
The objection also said Alabama law restricts questions, or interrogatories, to 40 without the court’s permission to go beyond that limit.
—Paul Gattis | Pgattis@al.com, al, 20 Apr. 2023
In the district court, Clinton was ordered to respond to interrogatories.
—Andrew C. McCarthy, National Review, 14 Apr. 2020
Along those lines, various persons in Williamson’s orbit could be forced to answer questions in depositions and through interrogatories.
—Michael McCann, SI.com, 22 Aug. 2019
During it, Brown and Taylor would be required to answer questions under oath, either in depositions (in-person answers) or interrogatories (written answers).
—Michael McCann, SI.com, 11 Sep. 2019
The result threw a spotlight on special interrogatories, a common feature in civil trials, according to veteran lawyers.
—Dan Hinkel, chicagotribune.com, 29 June 2018
This vetting will include interrogatories, a public hearing and an evidentiary hearing.
—Allan Vought, The Aegis, 28 June 2018
If strong enough to survive those first interrogatories, they will be interviewed by an asylum officer who will run a rough interview that emphasizes preventing fraud and often mistakenly determines that a person shouldn't receive asylum.
—Luis Mancheno, CBS News, 8 June 2018
Adjective
Highly personable and ingratiating but with a tough core, Walters withstood critiques about the softness of her interrogatory style with celebrities and sometimes major political figures as well.
—Carmel Dagan, Variety, 30 Dec. 2022
His interrogatory path in our reciprocal dance was not the typical name-rank-serial-number route my heart would have read as a plain vanilla checklist from a communications textbook.
—Chip Bell, Forbes, 12 July 2022
Minister Chiang gave the orderly a long, interrogatory look.
—Elliot Ackerman, Wired, 2 Mar. 2021
But Thornton had also figured out that his character’s power came not from fiercely interrogatory tactics but from apparent empathy and even his warm heart.
—Chris Jones, chicagotribune.com, 21 Dec. 2017
Dictionary Entries Near interrogatory
Cite this Entry
“Interrogatory.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/interrogatory. Accessed 2 Dec. 2024.
Copy CitationLegal Definition
interrogatory
noun
in·ter·rog·a·to·ry
ˌin-tə-ˈrä-gə-ˌtōr-ē
plural interrogatories
: a written question required by law to be answered under the direction of a court
especially
: a written question directed by one party to another regarding information that is within the scope of discovery see also general verdict and special verdict at verdict, special interrogatory
Note: Interrogatories are widely used as a discovery device in civil procedure and also have limited use in criminal proceedings. An interrogatory may be objected to and does not have to be answered if the court determines that it is excessive or burdensome. An interrogatory may also be submitted by a judge to a jury when the court asks for a general verdict and wants to know the basis of the decision, or when the court requires the jury to return a special verdict.
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