reinvestigate: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Formal, Academic, Legal, Journalistic
Quick answer
What does “reinvestigate” mean?
to investigate (a matter) again or anew.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
to investigate (a matter) again or anew.
To re-examine something, typically a crime, event, or series of facts, often with new evidence, a different perspective, or after an initial investigation is deemed insufficient.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning. Spelling follows regional norms: 're-' prefix is standard in both.
Connotations
In both varieties, it suggests official or serious scrutiny. In UK legal/journalistic contexts, it might be associated with formal reviews (e.g., by a committee or IPCC). In US contexts, it's strongly associated with law enforcement reopening cases.
Frequency
Slightly higher frequency in American English due to prevalent use in legal/detective drama media. Equally understood and used in professional contexts in both varieties.
Grammar
How to Use “reinvestigate” in a Sentence
reinvestigate [NP]reinvestigate [NP] for [NP] (e.g., reinvestigate the case for new evidence)reinvestigate [Wh-Clause] (e.g., reinvestigate how the funds disappeared)Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “reinvestigate” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The Crown Prosecution Service may reinvestigate if fresh evidence emerges.
- They are being urged to reinvestigate the figures in the report.
American English
- The DA agreed to reinvestigate the cold case.
- Congress is pushing to reinvestigate the security breach.
adverb
British English
- (Rarely used) The committee acted reinvestigatively, poring over old transcripts.
- N/A
American English
- (Rarely used) The agent looked at the file reinvestigatively.
- N/A
adjective
British English
- The reinvestigative process was lengthy.
- A reinvestigative panel was convened.
American English
- The case was under reinvestigative review.
- He led the reinvestigative team.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
The board decided to reinvestigate the accounting irregularities after the whistleblower came forward.
Academic
The historian argued we must reinvestigate the primary sources with a post-colonial lens.
Everyday
We had to reinvestigate the holiday plans when the flight was cancelled.
Technical
The engineering team was asked to reinvestigate the root cause of the system failure using the new diagnostic software.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “reinvestigate”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “reinvestigate”
- Incorrect: 'They will reinvestigate about the crime.' (Correct: 'They will reinvestigate the crime.')
- Misspelling: 're-investigate' (hyphen is generally outdated for this word).
- Wrong aspect: Using it for a first-time investigation.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
'Investigate' means to examine something for the first time. 'Reinvestigate' specifically means to examine it again, after a previous investigation has concluded.
Yes, it is primarily used in formal, professional, academic, legal, and journalistic contexts. In everyday conversation, phrases like 'look into it again' are more common.
Absolutely. It is frequently used when an audit, a complaint, a project failure, or a financial discrepancy needs to be examined a second time, often with more rigor or new parameters.
Yes, the most common noun form is 'reinvestigation'. Less commonly, 'reinvestigating' can be used as a gerund (e.g., 'The reinvestigating of the case took months').
to investigate (a matter) again or anew.
Reinvestigate: in British English it is pronounced /ˌriːɪnˈvestɪɡeɪt/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌriɪnˈvestəˌɡeɪt/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “To leave no stone unturned (again)”
- “To go back to the drawing board (in an investigative sense)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: RE + INVESTIGATE. You INVESTIGATE (like a detective) something a second time (RE-).
Conceptual Metaphor
KNOWLEDGE IS A COVERED OBJECT (investigation uncovers it; reinvestigation uncovers it again after it has been re-covered). JUSTICE IS A PATH (reinvestigation is going back down the path to find a missed turn).
Practice
Quiz
In which context is 'reinvestigate' LEAST likely to be used?