investigation
investigation, inquiry
noun an-ves-tee-gah-SYOHN Rare
Origin: from Latin 'investigatio', from 'investigare' (to track down)
Usage Note
Investigation in French refers to a thorough inquiry, typically journalistic or official. It is slightly more formal and elevated than enquête, which covers both criminal investigations and surveys. Journalisme d'investigation is the standard phrase for investigative journalism. The verb is investiguer (to investigate), which is less common than enquêter.
Examples
"L'investigation a duré plusieurs mois."
Natural Translation
The investigation lasted several months.

Free starter pack
Building your French vocabulary?
Get the 100 most common French words as a free PDF — one email, no spam.
Related Words
Explore French by topic