agent provocateur
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About Our Definitions: All forms of a word (noun, verb, etc.) are now displayed on one page.agent pro·vo·ca·teur
noun \ˈä-ˌzhäⁿ-prō-ˌvä-kə-ˈtər, ˈā-jənt-\ plural agents provocateurs \ˈä-ˌzhäⁿ-prō-ˌvä-kə-ˈtər, ˈā-jən(t)s-prō-\
Definition of AGENT PROVOCATEUR
: one employed to associate with suspected persons and by pretending sympathy with their aims to incite them to some incriminating action
See Examples of AGENT PROVOCATEUR
- The government used agents provocateurs to try to undermine the opposition party.
Origin of AGENT PROVOCATEUR
French, literally, provoking agent
First Known Use: 1877
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