inquisitive

Inquisitive is an adjective that describes a desire to learn or know more. It characterizes people, minds, or questions that seek information through questioning, exploration, or investigation. The term can carry a positive sense of curiosity as well as a neutral or negative nuance when it implies prying into someone’s affairs.

The word derives from Latin inquisitivus, from in- “toward” and quaerere “to seek,” passing through French inquisitif into English. Over time, it came to denote the act of questioning or investigating.

In practice, inquisitive is often used to describe children who ask many questions, scholars who pursue knowledge, or journalists who pursue facts. In education, an inquisitive approach emphasizes inquiry-based learning and critical thinking. The term may become pejorative if it suggests intrusion or nosiness.

Related forms include the noun inquisitiveness (the quality of being inquisitive) and the adverb inquisitively. Related but distinct terms include curious, inquiring, probing, and investigative; the opposites include indifferent and apathetic.

Example sentences illustrate its use: “The inquisitive student asked a series of thoughtful questions.” “Her inquisitive nature led her to explore many different disciplines.” In general, inquisitive conveys active curiosity and a drive to understand, with connotations that vary by context from constructive inquiry to intrusive nosiness.