detective
adjective
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Definition of detective
(Entry 1 of 2)
detective
nounDefinition of detective (Entry 2 of 2)
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Other Words from detective
Adjective
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adjective
Synonyms for detective
Synonyms: Noun
dick, gumshoe, hawkshaw, investigator, operative, private detective, private eye, private investigator, shamus [slang], sherlock, sleuth, sleuthhound
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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: Adjective
Named for the late star’s car-chasing 1968 detective thriller of that title, the hotel calls itself no-frills, but the design is fun and stylish. — New York Times, "In Belfast, a Hotel Inspired by a Steve McQueen Movie," 24 Feb. 2018 Hanover Square Press will publish their debut detective novel, First Cut, in 2019. — Dr. Judy Melinek, Vox, "The NRA told doctors to “stay in your lane” on guns. I’m a doctor. This is my lane.," 12 Nov. 2018 Among this week's half-dozen Paperback Picks is the 20th Harry Bosch detective novel and a nonfiction account of 10,000 American women who, during wartime, learned to break German and Japanese military codes. — Moira Macdonald, The Seattle Times, "Paperback Picks: books by Roddy Doyle, Lisa Halliday and more," 15 Oct. 2018 Unlike most detective series, which rely on the bleakness of their protagonists’ lives, Sjöwall and Wahlöö allowed their detective a journey of enlightenment and redemptive love. — Alice Bolin, Longreads, "The Daughter as Detective," 26 June 2018 Pat was a voracious reader, devouring everything from detective novels to biographies, and was extremely appreciative of the Windsor Public Library. — Hartford Courant, courant.com, "Patricia Alves," 21 June 2018 Mark Wahlberg and Peter Berg have set their next project with Netflix movie Wonderland, an adaptation from Robert B. Parker's detective novel series. — Mia Galuppo, The Hollywood Reporter, "Mark Wahlberg, Peter Berg Reteam for 'Wonderland' at Netflix," 26 June 2018 In the latest installment, Gonzales highlights Rhode Island Red, a detective novel written by Charlotte Carter. — Danielle Jackson, Longreads, "Series Exhumes Out-of-Print Books by Black Authors," 14 June 2018 Well, Westworld is a puzzle, and so self-aware about that fact that the rollout for Season 2 featured an elaborate tease for the show’s Redditor-detective fan base involving rickrolling and 21 minutes of a dog sitting at a piano. — Sophie Gilbert, The Atlantic, "The Promethean Puzzles of Westworld," 22 Apr. 2018Recent Examples on the Web: Noun
Thousands of mourners on Wednesday gathered at a Long Island church for the funeral of a New York Police Department detective who was killed last week while responding to a robbery in Queens. — Katie Honan, WSJ, "Thousands Mourn Fallen NYPD Detective," 20 Feb. 2019 As a sergeant, Jamie has seniority over Danny, who's a detective. — Jennifer Aldrich, Country Living, "'Blue Bloods' Hints at Fight That Could Tear Brothers Danny and Jamie Reagan Apart," 1 Feb. 2019 The Attorney General's Office did not say whether Orea might be tried first in Mexico in the detectives' killing. — Fox News, "2 Mexican cops killed trying to detain 2012 NY slay suspect," 27 Sep. 2018 The shooting may have taken place during a conflict between two people who knew each other, the police statement said, citing detectives' interviews with witnesses. — Agueda Pacheco-flores, The Seattle Times, "Man shot repeatedly in Rainier Valley, suffers serious injuries," 10 Sep. 2018 Dale Engle says traffic homicide detectives are investigating the crash, which occurred west of Fort Lauderdale. — CBS News, "Florida driver reaching for phone kills 2 horses and injures riders, police say," 9 July 2018 Major Crimes Division detectives are investigating the killing. — Nicholas Rondinone, courant.com, "Father Of Two Suffering From Cancer Killed In Hartford's North End," 9 July 2018 The department decided against the detective's termination and reassigned him. — charlotteobserver, "Unsatisfactory pace of homicide investigation forces CMPD to reassign detective," 5 July 2018 The motive for the shooting remained unclear, as the suspect declined to answer detectives' questions. — Lynn Horsley, kansascity, "Victims identified in Tuesday's shooting outside Overland Park elementary school," 4 July 2018These 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.
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More Definitions for detective
detective
adjective
English Language Learners Definition of detective
(Entry 1 of 2)
detective
nounEnglish Language Learners Definition of detective (Entry 2 of 2)
See the full definition for detective in the English Language Learners Dictionary
detective
noun
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Kids Definition of detective
detective
nounLegal Definition of detective
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