private investigator

noun

: a person not a member of a police force who is licensed to do detective work (such as investigation of suspected wrongdoing or searching for missing persons)

Synonyms

• detective
• dick
• gumshoe
• hawkshaw
• investigator
• operative
• private detective
• private eye
• shamus [slang]
• sherlock
• sleuth
• sleuthhound

Examples of private investigator in a Sentence

She hired a private investigator to follow her husband.

the retired policeman decided to become a private investigator

Recent Examples on the Web

His son filed a missing person report in Wichita Falls and the family hired a private investigator to try to locate him. —Mike Hixenbaugh, NBC News, 20 Dec. 2024

Murphey even hired a private investigator once Svetlana's address turned out to be fake. —Lester Fabian Brathwaite, EW.com, 19 Dec. 2024

After hiring a private investigator to track down their absentee dad and other half-siblings, Reuben is hitting the road to confront the man who abandoned them and wants Madeline to come with. —Shannon Carlin, TIME, 17 Dec. 2024

Over the years, the woman remained in contact with police and even hired private investigators and participated in media interviews, trying to generate leads. —Kevin Grasha, The Enquirer, 11 Dec. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1940, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

private investigator

noun

: a person who does detective work and is not a member of a police force

Legal Definition

private investigator

noun

: a person not a member of a police force who is licensed to do detective work (as investigation of suspected wrongdoing or searching for missing persons)