private eye

noun

Examples of private eye in a Sentence

unable to get the interest of the police, they hired a private eye to find their missing daughter
Recent Examples on the Web The report also indicates the two have taken care to keep their romance out of the private eye for what seems to be a substantial amount of time. Lissete Lanuza Sáenz, StyleCaster, 24 Oct. 2024 Worse yet, a seedy private eye (Kevin Bacon) starts invading Maxine’s personal space and threatens to expose her murderous past. Tim Lammers, Forbes, 13 Oct. 2024 Where to watch: Disney+ ‘Killer Heat’ Noir isn't just for back alleys and big cities: There's a scenic mystery afoot in this modern detective story, which stars Joseph Gordon-Levitt as an ex-cop working as a private eye in Greece. Brian Truitt, USA TODAY, 27 Sep. 2024 Wang, with her office full of helpers, her dialog that swings between that of a private eye and a guidance counsellor, and her ingenuity, is an undoubtedly fascinating central character. Patrick Frater, Variety, 1 Sep. 2024 See all Example Sentences for private eye 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'private eye.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1938, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of private eye was in 1938

Dictionary Entries Near private eye

Cite this Entry

“Private eye.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/private%20eye. Accessed 5 Nov. 2024.

Legal Definition

private eye

noun
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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