1. official investigations into the cause of a death, especially when it is sudden or unexplained
Usage: legal; plural of inquest
2. formal investigations or inquiries into any matter of public concern
Usage: formal; plural of inquest

Examples

• The coroner ordered inquests into all three suspicious deaths.
• Several inquests were held to determine the cause of the building collapse.
• The family demanded inquests after the hospital incidents.
• Public inquests revealed serious safety violations at the factory.
• The judge scheduled multiple inquests for the following month.
• These inquests will help prevent similar tragedies in the future.