Thesaurus
detective
detective
noun
Definition of DETECTIVE
a person not on the police force who investigates criminal or illicit activity or searches for missing persons <the code used by the serial killer in his letters to the police was actually cracked by an amateur detective>
Synonyms dick, gumshoe, hawkshaw, investigator, operative, private detective, private eye, private investigator, shamus [slang], sherlock, sleuth, sleuthhound
Seen & Heard
What made you want to look up detective? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).