questionnaire
B1Formal/Neutral
Definition
Meaning
A set of printed or written questions with a choice of answers, devised for the purposes of a survey or statistical study.
Any systematic set of questions used to gather information, opinions, or data from individuals or groups, often for research, assessment, or administrative purposes.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Primarily a noun referring to the instrument/tool itself, not the act of questioning. Implies a structured, often written, format.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning or usage. Spelling is identical. Pronunciation differs slightly (see IPA).
Connotations
Neutral in both varieties, associated with research, forms, and data collection.
Frequency
Equally common in both UK and US English.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
administer a questionnaire to someonerespond to a questionnairecompile data from a questionnaireanalyse the results of a questionnaireVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Death by questionnaire (humorous: an excessive number of forms to complete)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Used for market research, customer feedback, and employee satisfaction surveys.
Academic
A standard primary research tool in social sciences, psychology, and health studies.
Everyday
Commonly encountered as feedback forms for services, products, or events.
Technical
Refers to a validated research instrument with specific scales (e.g., Likert scale).
Examples
By CEFR Level
- Please fill in this questionnaire about your holiday.
- The teacher gave us a short questionnaire.
- We received a customer satisfaction questionnaire with our order.
- All participants must complete the online questionnaire before the study.
- The research team designed a detailed questionnaire to assess lifestyle habits.
- The response rate for the mailed questionnaire was disappointingly low.
- The validity of the psychometric questionnaire was confirmed through factor analysis.
- Participants were stratified before being administered the diagnostic questionnaire.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a QUESTION being put in the AIR for everyone to answer -> QUESTIONNAIRE.
Conceptual Metaphor
A QUESTIONNAIRE is a NET for catching data/opinions.
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid direct translation as 'опросник' in all contexts; 'анкета' is often closer for administrative forms.
- Do not confuse with 'interview' ('собеседование' or 'интервью').
Common Mistakes
- Using 'questionary' (archaic/incorrect).
- Misspelling: 'questionaire' (missing an 'n').
- Using as a verb, e.g., 'They will questionnaire the participants' (incorrect; use 'survey' or 'give a questionnaire to').
Practice
Quiz
What is the most common collocation with 'questionnaire' for describing the act of providing answers?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, 'questionnaire' is solely a noun. The related verb is 'to question' or 'to survey'.
A questionnaire is the specific set of questions (the instrument). A survey is the broader research method that often uses a questionnaire to collect data.
In British English: /ˌkwestʃəˈneə(r)/. In American English: /ˌkwestʃəˈner/. The main difference is the final vowel sound.
Typically, a questionnaire implies a written or digital format. A structured set of questions asked verbally is usually called an interview schedule or survey interview.
Explore