noun
detective
Someone whose job is to investigate crimes or other mysteries.
The detective interviews witnesses to find out who stole the jewelry.
Etymology
Latin de- and tegere express uncovering. Detective began as a description of work that uncovers hidden facts, then became the name for the investigator who does it.
More examples
- She hires a private detective to find her missing brother.
- Two detectives compare fingerprints found at the crime scene.
- The detective in this novel solves the case with one tiny clue.
Forms
Similar words
- investigator
- Broader term covering inquiries into crimes, accidents, or other matters.
- sleuth
- Informal term for a detective, often used in mystery stories.