investigator

noun

in·​ves·​ti·​ga·​tor in-ˈve-stə-ˌgā-tər 

plural investigators

: one who investigates something: such as

a

: detective

a private investigator

Debra Winger plays the investigator who becomes fixated on identifying a killer …

—Margaret Rauch

b

: a person who conducts experiments or is involved in scientific studies for research

the lead investigator in a clinical trial

For dialect recording, it is best for the investigator to take down as full and accurate notes as possible without slowing down the pace of the interview.

—Ravin I. McDavid, Jr.

Synonyms of investigator

• researcher

Examples of investigator in a Sentence

investigators who discovered new evidence that the universe was much older than had been previously estimated

the investigator in charge of the case was touted as an expert at tracing stolen art

Recent Examples on the Web

An investigation is underway in Lauderhill after police say a woman was shot after an altercation over the weekend, and now investigators are looking for those responsible. —Steven Yablonski, CBS News, 18 Nov. 2025

Fox wasn't interviewed at the time, Smyth said, adding that investigators at first focused on a dispute between Jackson and his landlord. —Emily Shapiro, ABC News, 11 Nov. 2025

The driver immediately stopped, stayed at the scene and cooperated with investigators, police said. —Shambhavi Rimal, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 11 Nov. 2025

Homicide investigators are investigating the circumstances of the death as suspicious based on the woman’s unexplained injuries. —Karen Kucher, San Diego Union-Tribune, 11 Nov. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1538, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing investigator

• co-investigator
• private investigator

Rhymes for investigator

• accelerator
• accumulator
• adjudicator
• administrator
• appropriator
• articulator
• attenuator
• bronchodilator
• collaborator
• communicator
• conciliator
• cooperator