What does enquiry mean?
An enquiry is an act of seeking information — essentially, a question — or, more formally, an organized investigation into a matter of public interest. The word belongs chiefly to British English: Britons commonly use it for everyday requests for information, as at a station's enquiries desk, while reserving "inquiry" for weightier proceedings such as a royal inquiry into a disaster. American English strongly prefers "inquiry" in every context, so "enquiry" can read as distinctly British. The word carries a neutral, often polite tone in its everyday sense and a serious, official tone when applied to investigations. Derived from Latin via Old French, it shares deep roots with words like "acquire" and "require," all built on the Latin verb quaerere, meaning "to seek." Whether you are making a casual enquiry about opening hours or following a high-profile enquiry into corporate misconduct, the word signals that someone is actively searching for answers.
The act of asking for information; a question or request for details.
"She made a brief enquiry about train times to Manchester."
Especially in British English, this sense favors the spelling "enquiry" over "inquiry."
An official process of investigating a matter, especially one established to examine an incident or issue of public concern.
"The judge presided over the enquiry into allegations of police misconduct."
British style guides often prefer "inquiry" for this formal investigative sense, though both spellings appear.
The plural follows regular English noun formation. In British usage, "enquiries" commonly refers to routine requests for information, as in a business's enquiries department.
"We have received hundreds of enquiries since the advertisement aired."
"Enquiry" and "inquiry" are twins separated at birth by a single letter — and which one you use quietly reveals which side of the Atlantic you learned your English on.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of enquiry
Enquiry derives from the Latin verb quaerere, meaning "to seek or ask," which passed into Old French as enquerre before entering English as enquire in the late Middle Ages, with the noun enquiry following shortly after. It is thus a doublet of "inquiry," formed from the same Latin root via a slightly different route through French. Cognate descendants of quaerere include "acquire," "require," and "question." In modern usage, British English retains both spellings while American English has largely standardized on the in- forms.
Related word forms
How enquiry is actually used
In British English, "enquiry" often signals a simple request for information (an "enquiries desk"), while "inquiry" tends to be used for formal investigations such as a judicial inquiry. In American English, "inquiry" is standard in all senses, and "enquiry" may strike readers as quaint or British. The plural is "enquiries."
Easily confused with enquiry
"Enquiry" and "inquiry" mean the same thing, but "inquiry" is the standard spelling in American English, while "enquiry" is common in British English, often reserved for informal questions with "inquiry" preferred for formal investigations.