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
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.
Ravin I. McDavid, Jr.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
What first appeared to be a common job-interview phishing campaign ultimately revealed a hack so widespread and easy to replicate that investigators fear irreversible damage.
—Jessica Klein, PC Magazine, 11 Apr. 2026
During a search of Muñoz's desk, investigators found rare antique coins with a receipt in the name of another dead man that Muñoz investigated in 2022, according to prosecutors.
—Julie Sharp, CBS News, 10 Apr. 2026
During a court hearing in Dallas on Wednesday, a judge ordered Williams, 26, to remain in custody pending trial and found that investigators had established probable cause in the case.
—Chase Rogers, Dallas Morning News, 10 Apr. 2026
On the other side of the scale is the danger of another Marshall fire, which investigators said was caused in part by a blaze that ignited near part of Xcel’s distribution system when a power line became loose and set parched vegetation on fire.
—Judith Kohler, Denver Post, 10 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for investigator
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Jessica Klein, PC Magazine, 11 Apr. 2026
During a search of Muñoz's desk, investigators found rare antique coins with a receipt in the name of another dead man that Muñoz investigated in 2022, according to prosecutors.
—Julie Sharp, CBS News, 10 Apr. 2026
During a court hearing in Dallas on Wednesday, a judge ordered Williams, 26, to remain in custody pending trial and found that investigators had established probable cause in the case.
—Chase Rogers, Dallas Morning News, 10 Apr. 2026
On the other side of the scale is the danger of another Marshall fire, which investigators said was caused in part by a blaze that ignited near part of Xcel’s distribution system when a power line became loose and set parched vegetation on fire.
—Judith Kohler, Denver Post, 10 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for investigator
Cite this Entry
“Investigator.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/investigator. Accessed 16 Apr. 2026.
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