inquisitorial

[ in-kwiz-i-tawr-ee-uhl, -tohr- ]

adjective

1. of or relating to an inquisitor or inquisition.
2. exercising the office of an inquisitor.
3. Law.
   1. pertaining to a trial with one person or group inquiring into the facts and acting as both prosecutor and judge.
   2. pertaining to secret criminal prosecutions.
4. resembling an inquisitor in harshness or intrusiveness.
5. inquisitive; prying.

inquisitorial

/ ɪnˌkwɪzɪˈtɔːrɪəl /

adjective

1. of, relating to, or resembling inquisition or an inquisitor
2. offensively curious; prying
3. law denoting criminal procedure in which one party is both prosecutor and judge, or in which the trial is held in secret Compare accusatorial

Derived Forms

• inˌquisiˈtorialness, noun
• inˌquisiˈtorially, adverb

Other Words From

• in·quisi·tori·al·ly adverb
• in·quisi·tori·al·ness noun
• unin·quisi·tori·al adjective
• unin·quisi·tori·al·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of inquisitorial¹

1755–65; < Medieval Latin inquīsītōri ( us ) ( Latin inquīsītōr-, stem of inquīsītor inquisitor + -ius adj. suffix) + -al ¹

Example Sentences

In a letter Mr. Bailey sent to members of the academy days after the vote, he wrote that the organization could not become “an inquisitorial court.”

From New York Times

In a letter to the judge, Mr. Trump’s legal team said “the judicial system relies upon vigorous advocacy amongst the parties, rather than inquisitorial research by the presiding judicial officer.”

From Washington Times

Binnall said the committee is acting as “an inquisitorial tribunal seeking evidence of criminal activity,” which he said is “outside of any of Congress’s legislative powers.”

From Seattle Times

They objected to the company requiring them to fill out "inquisitorial" questionnaires about their reasons for religious exemptions.

From Reuters

Some Spaniards embraced the restrictions with inquisitorial fervour.

From The Guardian