interrogatories
LowFormal, Legal
Definition
Meaning
Formal written questions posed in a legal proceeding, requiring sworn answers.
A set of formal, written questions submitted by one party in a lawsuit to another party, which must be answered under oath as part of the pre-trial discovery process. In broader, historical use, it can refer to any formal questioning or examination.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
This term is almost exclusively used in legal contexts. It is the plural form of 'interrogatory'. While 'questionnaire' or 'inquiry' might be used in general contexts, 'interrogatories' specifically implies a formal, compulsory, and legally binding process.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The term and its procedural use are common to both legal systems. However, the specific court rules governing their scope, number, and timeline differ between jurisdictions in the UK and US.
Connotations
Strongly associated with litigation, legal strategy, and the adversarial process in both varieties.
Frequency
Equally low-frequency outside of legal professionals in both regions, but universally recognised within the field of law.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
Serve [interrogatories] on [someone]Respond to [interrogatories] from [someone]Answer [interrogatories] under oathVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “[none directly associated with this specific plural form]”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Only relevant in the context of corporate litigation or major contractual disputes.
Academic
Found in law schools, textbooks on civil procedure, and legal history.
Everyday
Virtually never used in everyday conversation.
Technical
A core technical term in the field of law, specifically civil procedure and discovery.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The word 'interrogatories' is a difficult legal term.
- In American lawsuits, lawyers often send interrogatories to the other side.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a TORY (a member of a British political party) being INTERROGATED with formal, written questions – 'Interrogatories'.
Conceptual Metaphor
LAW IS WAR / LITIGATION IS A BATTLE (Interrogatories are 'weapons' or 'ammunition' used to gather intelligence from the opposing side before trial).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- False friend: Do not confuse with 'интеррогативный' (interrogative), which relates to grammar. The closest equivalent is 'письменные вопросы (в судебном процессе)' or the specific legal term 'интеррогатории', which is a direct borrowing.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'interrogatories' to refer to oral questioning in court (that is 'cross-examination').
- Using the singular 'interrogatory' when the plural is required, as they are almost always served in sets.
- Misspelling as 'interrogateries' or 'interogatories'.
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary purpose of interrogatories in a legal context?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Interrogatories are written questions with written answers. A deposition involves oral questioning of a witness under oath, recorded by a court reporter.
You can object to an interrogatory on specific legal grounds (e.g., privilege, relevance, burden), but you must usually state the reason for the objection. Simply refusing without a valid objection can lead to court sanctions.
Almost never. Its use is highly specialised within legal procedure. In historical or very formal contexts, it might refer to a rigorous questioning, but this is extremely rare.
The singular form is 'interrogatory'. However, because they are almost always used in sets, the plural form is far more common.