noun · 4 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot
Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.
Sound
Pronunciation
Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.
/ɪnˈkwɪzɪtəː/
[ɪnˈkwɪzɪthəː]
/ɪŋˈkwɪzɪtəː/
[ɪŋˈkwɪzɪthəː]
/ɪnˈkwɪzɪtɚ/without t-flapping
[ɪnˈkwɪzɪthɚ] ~ [ɪnˈkwɪzɪthɹ̩]without t-flapping
/ɪŋˈkwɪzɪtɚ/without t-flapping
[ɪŋˈkwɪzɪthɚ] ~ [ɪŋˈkwɪzɪthɹ̩]without t-flapping
/ɪnˈkwɪzɪɾɚ/t-flapping
[ɪnˈkwɪzɪɾɚ] ~ [ɪnˈkwɪzɪɾɹ̩]t-flapping
/ɪŋˈkwɪzɪɾɚ/t-flapping
[ɪŋˈkwɪzɪɾɚ] ~ [ɪŋˈkwɪzɪɾɹ̩]t-flapping
CMU ARPABET:IH2 N K W IH1 Z AH0 T ER0
Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.
1
noun
Meaning 1
A person who inquires, especially searchingly or ruthlessly.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Examples
During the meeting, Jake turned into an inquisitor, firing questions at the presenter non-stop.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
2
noun
Meaning 2
An official of the ecclesiastical court of the Inquisition.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: historical
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
3
noun
Meaning 3
a questioner who is excessively harsh
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: interrogator
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: inquirer, enquirer, questioner, querier, asker
4
noun
Meaning 4
an official of the ecclesiastical court of the Inquisition
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: official, functionary
Narrower terms: Grand Inquisitor
History
Etymology
From Old French inquisiteur, from Latin inquīsītor.
Across languages
Translations
24 source translations are retained for this English entry.
