Investigation

How it is used

Police 'launch', 'open' or 'carry out' an investigation; a person can be 'under investigation'; an investigation can be 'closed' or 'dropped'. 'Criminal investigation' is the full phrase, and 'inquiry' is a common British alternative.

Example sentences

1. The investigation is still at an early stage, so we cannot comment on the motive.

2. Two officers are now under investigation for misconduct.

3. Prosecutors opened an investigation into the missing funds.

Common collocations

• launch an investigation
• criminal investigation
• under investigation
• investigation into
• lead an investigation

Related terms

• suspectA person whom the police believe may have committed a crime but who has not yet been charged or found guilty.
• prosecutorA lawyer who works for the state and brings criminal cases to court, trying to prove that the defendant is guilty.
• evidenceInformation, objects, documents or testimony that a court can use to decide whether something is true, for example whether the defendant committed the crime.
• crime sceneThe place where a crime happened, where police and forensic experts look for evidence before anything is moved.
• prosecutionThe process of bringing a criminal case against someone in court; 'the prosecution' also means the lawyers who present the case against the defendant.

This word in other fields

The same English word can have a different meaning in another field:

• investigation · Medicine

More terms: Police Investigation & Arrest

• arrest
• custody
• statement
• confession
• warrant
• detain
• interrogation
• right to remain silent
• seize
• turn yourself in
• on the run