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investigation

[C/U] Both
pl: investigations

This word carries a strong sense of rigor, structure, and authority. Unlike "research" or "study," which can be casual or academic, an investigation often implies that something is missing, hidden, or wrong, and needs to be corrected or solved. In legal or criminal contexts, it feels heavy and official, suggesting the presence of investigators, evidence, and a quest for accountability. It is the process of digging deep into a specific incident rather than exploring a broad field of knowledge. In scientific or technical contexts, it suggests a targeted probe into a specific anomaly or hypothesis. The connotation is one of precision and systematic elimination of possibilities to arrive at a definitive truth.

Countable when referring to a specific case or official probe ('The FBI opened three separate investigations'). Uncountable when referring to the general process of researching and searching for facts ('This theory requires further investigation').

💬Conversación Casual

🎬Floating in the observation deck of a cruiser during a long haul.
Zorg

I'm doing a deep-dive investigation into why humans eat 'tacos' on Tuesdays.

Zorg
Lt. Vega
Lt. Vega

Drop it, Zorg. You're just overthinking a marketing gimmick.

💡
Zorg treats a mundane human tradition as a serious academic or forensic study (investigation), while Lt. Vega uses the phrasal verb 'drop it' to tell him to stop talking about it, highlighting their contrast in intensity and seriousness.

Meanings

Noun

A formal or systematic examination or research of a subject, person, or event to discover facts or uncover the truth.

"The police have launched a full-scale investigation into the cause of the accident."

Noun

The act of researching or studying a particular topic in detail to increase knowledge or solve a problem.

"Further scientific investigation is required to determine the long-term effects of the drug."

Last Updated: May 26, 2026Report an Error