private detective

NOUN

detective employed by private parties

Synonyms

STRONGEST

detective gumshoe private eye private investigator sleuth

WEAK

P.I. Sherlock Holmes beagle dick flatfoot inquiry agent inspector investigator operative private dick skip tracer sleuthhound spotter tec

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.

Enter Dell Chandler, a failed English professor turned bootstrapping private detective, hired by Dr. Cutty to investigate.

From Los Angeles Times • May 12, 2026

Claude, meanwhile, having left the police to become a private detective, is obsessed with solving a string of related wartime murders, including that of Huguette’s father.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 16, 2026

Three flavors of investigators combine here: the citizen detective, the private detective and the police detective.

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 8, 2026

Marten's family also hired a private detective to find her.

From BBC • Jul. 14, 2025

This private detective is the creation of San Francisco’s own literary son, Dashiell Hammett, and appeared in his novel The Maltese Falcon, as well as three short stories.

From "Book Scavenger" by Jennifer Chambliss Bertman

private detective

Example Sentences

Related Words