An interrogation is the act of asking someone questions in a thorough, intense, and often pressure-filled way to get information. Police detectives interrogate suspects to find out what happened during a crime. During an interrogation, the questioner keeps pushing for details, asking follow-up questions, and watching carefully for signs that someone might be hiding something.

Unlike a casual conversation or even a regular interview, an interrogation has a more serious, pressing quality. The person being questioned (called the subject or suspect) often doesn't want to reveal what they know, which is why interrogators use careful techniques to get at the truth.

You might see interrogations in detective movies, where a suspect sits in a small room answering questions under bright lights. But interrogation happens in other contexts too: a teacher might interrogate a student about who started the food fight, or parents might interrogate their kids about a mysterious broken vase.

The related verb is interrogate. When used about everyday situations, it usually suggests someone is asking too many questions too aggressively: “Stop interrogating me about where I've been!” means “You're asking way too many questions, and it feels like I'm in trouble.”