Meaning & use
under investigation
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Meaning
phrasefixed phrase
Being examined officially to find out the facts about something, especially a possible crime or problem.
Grammar: Used after the verb be (is, was, etc.) and often followed by by someone or into something: The matter is under investigation by the police.
Patterns
- be under investigation
- be under investigation by someone
- be under investigation for something
The company is under investigation for possible tax fraud.
Two officers are under investigation after the incident.
The cause of the fire is still under investigation.
Common combinations
- under investigation by
- The case is under investigation by the local police.
- under investigation for
- She is under investigation for corruption.
- still under investigation
- The accident is still under investigation.
- under investigation into
- The matter is under investigation into the missing funds.
- be under investigation
- He is under investigation and has not been charged.
Synonyms and how they differ
- under scrutiny
- This means being watched or examined closely, often by the public or media, not necessarily by official authorities.
- under review
- This means being examined to see if changes are needed, often for policies or decisions, not for possible wrongdoing.
Commonly confused: under investigation or under arrest? under investigation or undercover?
under investigation vs under arrest
Under arrest means officially taken into police custody and not free to leave; under investigation only means being examined, and the person may not be arrested.
under investigation vs undercover
Undercover describes working secretly, especially for the police; under investigation describes being examined, not acting secretly.
Practice
The missing money is ______ investigation by the authorities.
Choose one answer.
The fixed phrase is 'under investigation', meaning being officially examined. 'In investigation' is not used in this way; 'on investigation' could mean 'when investigated', but it does not fit the structure 'is ... investigation by'.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “under investigation”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.