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Synonyms
Examples of private detective in a Sentence
when the police insisted that it was an accident and not murder, she hired a private detective
Recent Examples on the Web
Watch Murder Mystery on Netflix Murder Mystery 2 In 2023, Sandler and Aniston returned for a sequel, and this time around the couple are now full-time private detectives.
—Keith Langston, Peoplemag, 1 Mar. 2024
Through the eyes of Easy Rawlins, an African American private detective, the film explores themes of racial tension, political corruption, and the quest for identity.
—Travis Bean, Forbes, 1 Mar. 2024
Von Hohenlohe took their two sons and, while on the run, sometimes dressed them as girls to avoid private detectives and others seeking to return the children to Ms. von Fürstenberg and claim a reward.
—Brian Murphy, Washington Post, 24 Feb. 2024
This is not the strangest left turn a TV spinoff has taken, if only because Baywatch Nights — where David Hasselhoff’s lifeguard Mitch Buchanan moonlighted as a private detective, and in the second and final season began investigating paranormal mysteries — exists.
—Alan Sepinwall, Rolling Stone, 28 Feb. 2024
William Dear has made headlines for decades as an obsessive private detective.
—Cnn.com Wire Service, The Mercury News, 12 Feb. 2024
Mandy Patinkin is picking up the magnifying glass in his latest role, as legendary private detective Rufus Cotesworth on Death and Other Details.
—Maureen Lee Lenker, EW.com, 16 Jan. 2024
The series followed the cases of a former model (Shepherd) and a detective (Bruce) who manage a private detective agency.
—Scott Huver, Peoplemag, 2 Dec. 2023
He was nominated seven times in all, including twice for the pilot for ABC’s Moonlighting, the 1985-89 comedy-drama that starred Cybill Shepherd and Bruce Willis as private detectives.
—Mike Barnes, The Hollywood Reporter, 11 Nov. 2023
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'private detective.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
First Known Use
1861, in the meaning defined above
Time Traveler
The first known use of private detective was
in 1861
Dictionary Entries Near private detective
Cite this Entry
“Private detective.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/private%20detective. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.
Kids Definition
private detective
nounLegal Definition
private detective
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Merriam-Webster unabridged
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