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Showing results for detective. Search instead for detektivischer.
Definitions

detective

[dih-tek-tiv] / dɪˈtɛk tɪv /
NOUN
investigator of crime
Synonyms
STRONGEST
agent informer police officer private eye private investigator prosecutor reporter sleuth spy
STRONG
analyst bloodhound bull constable cop dick eavesdropper eye fed fink flatfoot gumshoe nark peeper roper scout sergeant shadow shamus shoofly snoop tail
WEAK
P.I. Sherlock Holmes bird dog plainclothes officer slewfoot

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.

Still, Ms. Worsley—the history detective with the fabulous shoes—has always had a bit of mischief about her.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 2, 2026

Grandfather, who puffs on Gauloises cigarettes, resembles Baroness Orczy’s Old Man in the Corner, an armchair detective who solves crimes from the confines of a London tea shop.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 27, 2026

At one point, he was asked by a detective why he was laughing, and he replied: "If I don't laugh, I'll cry."

From BBC • Mar. 24, 2026

Showing us the haul, a detective - who asked not to be identified - said the phone would be analysed for links to organised crime.

From BBC • Mar. 13, 2026

What if they knew she wasn’t Mrs. Barley at all but a highly skilled detective from Chicago?

From "The Detective's Assistant" by Kate Hannigan

From Roget's 21st Century Thesaurus, Third Edition Copyright © 2013 by the Philip Lief Group.