interrogative

American  

[in-tuh-rog-uh-tiv] / ˌɪn təˈrɒg ə tɪv /

adjective

1. of, relating to, or conveying a question.

2. Grammar. forming, constituting, or used in or to form a question.

   an interrogative pronoun, suffix, particle, or sentence.

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noun

1. Grammar. an interrogative word, element, or construction, as who? and what?

interrogative British  

/ ˌɪntəˈrɒɡətɪv /

adjective

1. asking or having the nature of a question

2. denoting a form or construction used in asking a question

3. denoting or belonging to a class of words, such as which and whom, that are determiners, adjectives, or pronouns and serve to question which individual referent or referents are intended Compare demonstrative relative

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noun

1. an interrogative word, phrase, sentence, or construction

2. a question mark

Other Word Forms

• interrogatively adverb
• uninterrogative adjective
• uninterrogatively adverb

Etymology

Origin of interrogative

From the Late Latin word interrogātīvus, dating back to 1510–20. See interrogate, -ive

Example Sentences

Over the holiday season, there were online pile-ons galore, with straight women repeatedly taking gay critics of the show to task over their negative or merely interrogative opinions of the series.

From Salon • Jan. 2, 2026

At charity events, auctioneers insert interrogative phrases, such as “would you give?,” an appeal to the bidders’ generosity.

From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 28, 2025

But Ghani’s mode is less interrogative than associative.

From New York Times • Aug. 5, 2021

Had Cooper approached this question with the same interrogative spirit with which she approached her own narrative assumptions, the book would have felt more complete.

From Washington Post • Nov. 14, 2020

Stanley lifted his forearm off the rock and held up an interrogative finger.

From "Lord of the Flies" by William Golding