detective

play

adjective de·tec·tive \ di-ˈtek-tiv \

Definition of detective

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

—

detectivelike

play \-ˌlīk\ adjective

See detective defined for English-language learners

See detective defined for kids

Examples of detective in a Sentence

We had to do some detective work to find out who used to own the property.
He enjoys reading detective novels.

Recent Examples of detective from the Web

Binet’s playful buddy-cop detective novel reimagines the historical event of the literary theorist Roland Barthes’s death.

— New York Times, "10 New Books We Recommend This Week," 24 Aug. 2017
Anyone with information is asked to call the Akron Police Department's detective bureau at 330-375-2490.

— evan macdonald, cleveland.com, "Detroit man critically injured in Akron shooting, police say," 9 Aug. 2017
Mindhunter, a detective drama executive produced by David Fincher and Charlize Theron, explores the psyche of some of America's most infamous serial killers.

— aric jenkins, Time, "Watch the Trailer for David Fincher and Charlize Theron's New Netflix Show Mindhunter," 1 Aug. 2017
Mr. Mercedes Based on Stephen's 2014 detective novel of the same name, this miniseries premieres August 9 and stars Mary-Louise Parker, Ann Cusack, Jharrel Jerome, and Holland Taylor, among others.

— kelly mcclure, Cosmopolitan, "A Comprehensive Guide to Stephen King, the Master of Horror Fiction," 31 July 2017
Anyone with information about the robbery is asked to call the Garfield Heights Police Department's detective bureau at 216-475-5686.

— evan macdonald, cleveland.com, "Masked man with crowbar sought in Garfield Heights gas station robbery," 19 July 2017
Anyone with information about the men is asked to call the department's detective bureau at 203-877-1465 or Det.

— christine dempsey, courant.com, "Sonic Worker Walks Away From Would-Be Robbers, Thieves Leave Empty-Handed," 18 July 2017
Anyone with information about these incidents is asked to call the department's detective bureau at 219-852-2906.

— becky jacobs, Post-Tribune, "Guns fired in air injured 13-year-old, damaged business over holiday weekend, police say," 6 July 2017
Harrison said by rewarding detectives, the detective track will help the NOPD to keep the most skilled investigators in those important roles, where they are needed.

— emily lane, NOLA.com, "New pay plan for NOPD aims to bolster manpower: Mayor Landrieu, Chief Harrison," 5 July 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'detective.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

First Known Use of detective

1732

detective

noun

Definition of detective

:one employed or engaged in detecting lawbreakers or in getting information that is not readily or publicly accessible

See detective defined for English-language learners

Examples of detective in a Sentence

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 of detective from the Web

The former detective's testimony is particularly necessary because Guevara, who also speaks Spanish, acted as an interpreter when the Spanish-speaking Solache confessed to a prosecutor decades ago, Obbish said.

— megan crepeau, chicagotribune.com, "Judge clears way for controversial ex-Chicago police detective to testify," 30 Aug. 2017
The teen told the detective that Bowles reportedly provided her alcoholic beverages, court documents said.

— amy lavalley, Post-Tribune, "Former deputy enters not guilty plea to child porn charges," 28 Aug. 2017
Rath, 44, was an officer and detective in Lee’s Summit for 10 years.

— toriano porter, kansascity, "Lee’s Summit detective succumbs to cancer after year-long battle," 26 Aug. 2017
After 3 p.m. Aug. 18, the SWAT team assisted detectives in securing the scene to execute the search warrant.

— by jessica de leon, miamiherald, "He sold drugs from filthy Florida home filled with roaches, rodents and kids, cops say," 24 Aug. 2017
The suspicious death of a man in his 70s found in his East Village studio Wednesday is being investigated by homicide detectives.

— pauline repard, sandiegouniontribune.com, "Homicide detectives investigating suspicious death in East Village," 23 Aug. 2017
Jim Wilke, a retired LAPD detective who knows Adair, told The Orange County Register.

— jeff maysh, Los Angeles Magazine, "The Cop Who Became a Robber," 22 Aug. 2017
London, 29, turned himself in to Montgomery Police Department detectives Tuesday evening.

— kelly poe, AL.com, "Montgomery police make arrest in homicide of 23-year-old man," 21 Aug. 2017
On Friday, police said detectives with the homicide unit arrested and charged Oscar Torbert, 29, with murder.

— sarah brookbank, Cincinnati.com, "Man charged after fatal shooting in Villages at Roll Hill," 18 Aug. 2017

First Known Use of detective

1849

detective Synonyms

Synonyms

dick, gumshoe, hawkshaw, investigator, operative, private detective, private eye, private investigator, shamus [slang], sherlock, sleuth, sleuthhound

Related Words

shadow, tail, tracer, tracker; fed, Federal, G-man, narc (or nark) [slang], plainclothesman

DETECTIVE Defined for English Language Learners

detective

play

adjective

Definition of detective for English Language Learners

: done in order to find out hidden or unknown information
: of or relating to crimes and detectives

detective

noun

Definition of detective for English Language Learners

: a police officer whose job is to find information about crimes that have occurred and to catch criminals
: a person whose job is to find information about something or someone