investigative

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/ɪnˈvɛstɪɡətɪv//ɪnˈvɛstɪɡeɪtɪv/

adjective

Of or pertaining to investigation or an investigation.

Similar
investigatoryfact-findinginquiring
CommonScrabble 20
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Meanings

adjectiveinvestigative (not comparable)
  1. not comparableOf or pertaining to investigation or an investigation.

    RAIB prides itself on being able to send any of its inspectors to site with sufficient investigative skills and technical knowledge to gather evidence for any type of accident.

    2021 December 29, Paul Stephen, “Rail's accident investigators”, in RAIL, number 947, page 32

    Synonyms: investigatory

  2. not comparableInquisitive; curious.

Synonyms & antonyms

adjectiveOf or pertaining to investigation or an investigation.

Similar
investigatory

More synonyms by meaning

adjectivedesigned to find information or ascertain facts

Similar
fact-findinginvestigatoryinquiring
Also see
curiousfact-findinginquiringinterrogativeinvestigatory

Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.

Origin

From investigate + -ive.

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Finnish tutkiva
  • tutkivapertaining to investigation
German investigativ
  • investigativpertaining to investigation
Italian investigativo
  • investigativopertaining to investigation
Portuguese investigativo
  • investigativopertaining to investigation
Romanian investigativ
  • investigativpertaining to investigation
Spanish investigativo
  • investigativopertaining to investigation
Swedish undersökande, grävande
  • undersökandepertaining to investigation
  • grävandepertaining to investigation
Cite this entry
APA

investigative. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/investigative

MLA

“investigative.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/investigative. Accessed November 4, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “investigative,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/investigative.

Source: investigative on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.