investigatory

Investigatory is an adjective meaning relating to or involved in investigation or inquiry. It derives from the verb investigate, with the suffix -ory indicating pertaining to or connected with, and has long been used in formal and legal language.

In law and government, investigatory powers, committees, and hearings describe authority and procedures for collecting evidence, questioning witnesses, and examining records. Investigatory processes are typically defined by statutes, regulations, or organizational rules and are designed to identify facts without presupposing guilt or liability. In corporate settings, investigatory procedures may be used in internal investigations into misconduct, compliance breaches, or safety incidents.

In contrast to investigative, which is commonly used in journalism, science, or research to denote active uncovering or examination of facts, investigatory tends to emphasize formal examination and regulatory oversight. The two terms can overlap, but investigatory often signals procedural authority or official inquiry.

Common phrases include investigatory powers, investigatory committee, investigatory hearing, and investigatory report. By contrast, investigative and investigation-related terms are used for investigative journalism, investigative reporting, or clinical investigations.

Notes on usage: Some style guides prefer investigatory for formal legal texts and investigative when referring to proactive search for evidence in other domains. Etymology and usage are stable in many English varieties, though regional preferences may vary.