Interrogation vs Question

When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.

Interrogation

Formal Top 5,000 (fairly common)

Question

Top 1,000 (very common) A1 noun

Most formal: Interrogation Most common: Question

	Interrogation	Question
Pronunciation	🇬🇧 //ɪnˌtɛrəˈɡeɪʃən// 🇺🇸 //ɪnˌtɜːrɪˈɡeɪʃən//	🇬🇧 /["/ˈkwestʃən/"]/ 🇺🇸 /["/ˈkwestʃən/"]/
Meaning	Asking someone many questions to get information.	A sentence or phrase that asks for information.
Example	The police conducted a thorough interrogation of the suspect.	The teacher asked a difficult question during the exam.
Register	Formal	Neutral
How common	Top 5,000 (fairly common)	Top 1,000 (very common)
CEFR level	-	A1
Part of speech		noun
Collocations	police interrogation, long interrogation, intense interrogation, interrogation techniques, hostile interrogation	awkward, difficult, embarrassing, ask (somebody), have, address, question about, question as to, question concerning to, awkward, difficult, embarrassing, ask (somebody), have, address, question about, question as to, question concerning to, burning, challenging, controversial, bring up, pose, raise, arise, go unanswered, remain unanswered, question about, question for, question of, come into, call into, be open to, beyond question, in question, without question
Antonyms	silence, calmness	answer, solution
Common mistakes	Confusing with 'interrogate' which is the verb form., Using it in informal settings where simpler terms like 'questioning' are better., Assuming it's always negative; it can be neutral in investigative contexts.	Confusing 'question' with 'query' in formal contexts., Using 'questions' as a singular noun, e.g., 'I have a question' instead of 'I have questions.'
Usage notes	Used mainly in legal contexts. Avoid in casual conversations. It implies a serious or intense questioning.	Use 'question' in both formal and informal settings. It's appropriate in classrooms, interviews, and casual conversations. Avoid using in situations where a statement is expected.

See it in real clips

Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. › S1 E1

that you'd deliberately blow an interrogation?

Interrogation

Agatha Christies Poirot › S1 E1

Ah. That is a very good question, Hastings.

There is a question I would like to ask.

Agent Carter › S1 E1

Which begs the question, why invent them at all?

Agatha Christies Poirot › S1 E1

Ah. That is a very good question, Hastings.

There is a question I would like to ask.

Question

Frequently asked questions: Interrogation vs Question

What's the difference between Interrogation and Question?

Interrogation: Asking someone many questions to get information. Question: A sentence or phrase that asks for information.

Which is more formal: Interrogation and Question?

Interrogation is the most formal of these.

Which is more common: Interrogation and Question?

Question is the most common in everyday English.

Can you show an example of each?

Interrogation: The police conducted a thorough interrogation of the suspect. Question: The teacher asked a difficult question during the exam.

Can I use Interrogation and Question interchangeably?

Not always. Interrogation and Question are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.