Main Entry: agent pro·vo·ca·teur

Pronunciation: \ˈä-ˌzhäⁿ-prō-ˌvä-kə-ˈtər, ˈā-jənt-\

Function: noun

Inflected Form(s): plural agents provocateurs \ˈä-ˌzhäⁿ-prō-ˌvä-kə-ˈtər, ˈā-jən(t)s-prō-\

Etymology: French, literally, provoking agent

Date: 1877

: one employed to associate with suspected persons and by pretending sympathy with their aims to incite them to some incriminating action