French Conversation · Level 77
60 words
French word
investigation
Pronunciation
IPA/ɛ̃vɛstigasjɔ̃/
Meaning
- feminine nouninvestigation
Example
La police a ouvert une investigation ce matin.
The police launched an investigation this morning.
More examples
Le journaliste mène une investigation sur la corruption locale.
The journalist is conducting an investigation into local corruption.
Core concept
A structured inquiry that follows clues from scattered evidence to the underlying facts.
Common phrases
ouvrir une investigation
open an investigation
mener une investigation
conduct an investigation
Similar words
enquête: An inquiry based on interviews and documents to establish the facts of a matter.
recherche: The search for information and sources needed to answer a question or resolve a problem.
Definition in French
Recherche systématique d'informations ou de preuves pour vérifier des faits ou comprendre une situation.
Word origin
The French noun comes through Latin investigatio and ultimately reflects investigare, the act of following a vestigium, or track.
Usage tips
- French often uses enquête for a police inquiry, while investigation commonly suggests a formal, detailed, or journalistic inquiry.
Other meanings
- researchnoun
Related words
- investiguerinvestigateverb
- investigateurinvestigatornoun
- investigatifinvestigativeadjective