de·tec·tive
di-ˈtek-tiv 
1
: fitted for or used in detecting something
had perfected his detective sensibilities
2
: of or relating to detectives or their work
a detective novel
: one employed or engaged in detecting lawbreakers or in getting information that is not readily or publicly accessible
a police detective
hired a private detective
Examples of detective in a Sentence
Adjective
We had to do some detective work to find out who used to own the property.
He enjoys reading detective novels.
Noun
She is a detective on the police force.
Detective Sgt. Lee is working on the case.
She hired a detective to follow her husband.
Recent Examples on the Web
Los Angeles Times, 14 June 2026
An aficionado of true-crime podcasts and makeup influencers — which, in the film, are smartly combined into a single, macabre point of interest — Nawal, whose job involves digitizing paper files, is often left on the outside looking in, despite her keen eye for detective work.
—Siddhant Adlakha, Variety, 8 June 2026
Nathan Pilling, Kansas City Star, 15 June 2026
The jurors were also shown drone footage of an accident re-enactment completed by a Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office crime scene detective.
—Grethel Aguila, Miami Herald, 15 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for detective
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Adjective
Others resurfaced only through detective work that sent Dorfan following leads that spanned decades and crossed more than a dozen borders.
—Los Angeles Times, 14 June 2026
An aficionado of true-crime podcasts and makeup influencers — which, in the film, are smartly combined into a single, macabre point of interest — Nawal, whose job involves digitizing paper files, is often left on the outside looking in, despite her keen eye for detective work.
—Siddhant Adlakha, Variety, 8 June 2026
Noun
Anyone with information about the killing may contact detectives by calling 816-234-5043 or reach out to the TIPS Hotline anonymously at 816-474-TIPS.
—Nathan Pilling, Kansas City Star, 15 June 2026
The jurors were also shown drone footage of an accident re-enactment completed by a Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office crime scene detective.
—Grethel Aguila, Miami Herald, 15 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for detective
Cite this Entry
“Detective.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/detective. Accessed 17 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
detective
1 of 2 adjective
de·tec·tive
di-ˈtek-tiv
: of or relating to detectives or their work
a detective story
detective
2 of 2 noun
: a person whose business is solving crimes and catching criminals or gathering information that is not easy to get
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