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Synonyms

detective

American  
[dih-tek-tiv] / dɪˈtɛk tɪv /

noun

  1. a member of the police force or a private investigator whose function is to obtain information and evidence, as of offenses against the law.

adjective

  1. of or relating to detection or detectives.

    a detective story.

  2. serving to detect; detecting.

    various detective devices.
detective British  
/ dɪˈtɛktɪv /

noun

    1. a police officer who investigates crimes

    2. See private detective

    3. ( as modifier )

      a detective story
"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

adjective

  1. used in or serving for detection

  2. serving to detect

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of detective

First recorded in 1830–40; detect + -ive

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

According to a search warrant affidavit, detectives tracked a suspect vehicle to a home in Sun Valley after it was captured by several scanners near where the shooting occurred.

From Los Angeles Times

After detectives released the list of sightings, I knocked at the caretaker's door, because he appeared to be the last man to have seen the girls.

From BBC

The force also previously confirmed a police investigation is under way and that detectives are liaising with staff at the prison.

From BBC

Los Angeles Police Department detectives travelled to Texas to bring the singer's family to California to appear before the grand jury, whose proceedings are secret, court records said.

From BBC

Durham Constabulary confirmed a police investigation is under way and that detectives are liaising with staff at the prison.

From BBC

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.