enquiry

[ en-kwahyuhr-ee, en-kwuh-ree ]

noun

, plural en·quir·ies.

1. inquiry.

Example Sentences

Particularly in the case of responses emphasising bizarre thinking and exaggerated suspiciousness, attention should also be paid to assessing mood and self-destructive thinking, as these factors can remain hidden without further enquiry.

From Science Daily

CID told me there was “very little reasonable line of enquiry to pursue considering the number used was withheld.”

From BBC

National Highways said the road was expected to remain closed throughout Tuesday morning, while enquiries ware carried out.

From BBC

Judging by Google's data, search enquiries that include the country’s name have shot up since the beginning of this week.

From BBC

The incident is not believed to be suspicious, but enquiries to establish the circumstances are ongoing.

From BBC

Related Words

• inquiry
• inquisition
• query

Enquiry Vs. Inquiry

What's the difference between enquiry and inquiry?

Enquiry and inquiry have the same meanings: a question, an investigation, a request for information, or the process of seeking information. Enquiry is a less common variant of inquiry.

Their verb forms—enquire and inquire—also mean the same thing: to ask, to seek information, or to investigate.

Both enquiry and inquiry are somewhat formal, especially compared to similar terms like question or investigation. Some speakers of British English may use both words, preferring enquiry in contexts that are less formal. In the U.S., enquiry is rarely used.

Here’s an example of enquiry used correctly in a sentence.

Example: I forwarded you an email with an enquiry about the open position.

Inquiry could be used in this sentence in the same exact way.

Most of these same distinctions apply to the verbs enquire and inquire.

To learn more about them, read the full breakdown of the difference between enquire and inquire.

Quiz yourself on enquiry and inquiry!

True or False?

Enquiry and inquiry have the same meaning.