investigative
in-vess-tih-GAY-tiv
/ɪnˈves.tɪ.ɡə.tɪv/
Of or concerned with financial, criminal, or systematic examination and inquiry.
Formal and professional; describes structured, evidence-based methods used by journalists, police, or researchers.
The story behind the word. Traced to Latin 'investigare' (to track or trace out), formed from 'in-' (into) and 'vestigium' (footprint). To investigate literally means following footprints left behind.
Word relationships
- fact-finding: Fact-finding focuses specifically on collecting raw information without necessarily legal aims.
- inquisitorial: Inquisitorial implies severe, hostile, or authoritative questioning.
- uncritical: Accepting statements without examination or analysis.
Commonly confused with
- searching: Searching focuses on penetrating gaze/questions; investigative focuses on systematic institutional methods.
Word family
- investigate (verb): To carry out a systematic inquiry.
- investigation (noun): A formal inquiry or systematic study.
- investigator (noun): A person who investigates.
Collocations
- investigative reporting
- investigative agency
- investigative process
- investigative journalism
Example sentences
- "The newspaper won a prestigious award for its investigative journalism on industrial pollution." Journalism
- "The agency mobilized an investigative team to track international wire transfers." Law enforcement
Memory hook
An INVESTIGATOR follows FOOTPRINTS (vestigium) to solve the case. Follow the footprints.
When not to use
Avoid using for informal or casual inquisitiveness.
Fun facts
- The English word 'vestige' (a remaining trace) shares this exact root—investigators search for the tiny vestiges left at crime scenes!
Related words
Explore more words
exposé, detective, forensic, do research, interrogate, inquiry
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