Inquisition, the BrE AmE
an official Roman Catholic organization which tried to find and punish ↑ heretic s (=people with unacceptable religious beliefs) during the ↑ Middle Ages , and which is known for the cruel ways that it tortured(↑ torture ) and killed people. The most famous part of the organization was the Spanish Inquisition, led in the 15th century by Tomás de ↑ Torquemada .