detective

adjective de·tec·tive \ di-ˈtek-tiv \

|Updated on: 7 Jul 2018

Examples: detective in a Sentence

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

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. 2018
Anyone with information is asked to call the Akron Police Department's detective bureau at 330-375-2490.

— evan macdonald, cleveland.com, "Akron man fatally shot in city's Middlebury neighborhood," 17 Apr. 2018
By then the Millars had settled in Santa Barbara, Calif., and Kenneth had begun writing detective novels too, eventually using the pen name Ross Macdonald.

— tom nolan, WSJ, "‘Collected Millar’ Review: She Kept Us in Suspense," 13 Apr. 2018
Anyone with information about the truck or the man is asked to call the police department detective bureau at 203-254-4840 or text ‘FPD’ plus your tip to CRIMES (274637).

— christine dempsey, courant.com, "Fairfield Police: Watch For "Stocky" Knifepoint Robber," 2 Apr. 2018
Anyone with information about the teens is asked to call the Akron Police Department's detective bureau at 330-375-2490.

— evan macdonald, cleveland.com, "Woman attacked by teens while calling 911 to report large fight at Akron park," 30 Mar. 2018
Sam and Twitch: True Detectives by Todd McFarlane Productions: Eight issues focusing on the two detective characters central to the Spawn mythos.

— graeme mcmillan, The Hollywood Reporter, "Image Unveils Millarworld/Netflix Plans and New Comic Book Projects," 21 Feb. 2018
Anyone with information about the holdup or the robber is asked to call the Fairfield Police detective bureau at 203-254-4840, or text a tip to CRIMES (274637).

— christine dempsey, courant.com, "Robber Wearing Purple Bandanna Robs Store At Knifepoint, Fairfield Police Say," 26 Mar. 2018

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

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year

NEW! Time Traveler

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

Anyone with information should call 704-432-TIPS to speak with a homicide detective or call Crime Stoppers at 704-334-1600.

— jane wester, charlotteobserver, "Victim identified after deadly shooting at Charlotte hotel," 1 July 2018
Anne Arundel County police records show a detective concluded Ramos wasn't a threat to employees.

— Fox News, "The Latest: Priest highlights work of 5 slain journalists," 30 June 2018
Thanks to the detective work of family members documented by the Post, mother and daughter reunited after a DNA match on Ancestry.com.

— joel shannon, USA TODAY, "100-year-old mother meets 79-year-old daughter for the first time: 'It was a miracle'," 29 June 2018
One of my readers did a little detective work, and deduced exactly where the bedlam bungalow is, possibly due to its proximity to the roof cow.

— kevin fisher-paulson, SFChronicle.com, "Cops and copy editors keeping things orderly," 25 June 2018
Citywide shooting detectives are trying to determine where the shooting occurred.

— jessica anderson, baltimoresun.com, "One killed, two teenagers injured in overnight shootings, Baltimore Police police say," 21 June 2018
Connie Jones' current husband is Rick Anglin, a former police detective who reportedly first linked the killings to his wife's former husband.

— azcentral, "Connie Jones, ex-wife of Scottsdale-area shooter Dwight Jones, to speak with media," 12 June 2018
Hilbert was a detective investigating the shooting and Gramke was then the sergeant in charge of the homicide unit.

— dan horn, Cincinnati.com, "Freed murder suspect says cops hid DNA evidence that exonerated him," 8 June 2018
Take us inside the amazing detective work done by Walter Alvarez to prove this cataclysmic event.

— robert clark, National Geographic, "Why Today is the Golden Age for Dinosaur Discoveries," 2 June 2018

First Known Use of detective

1849

in the meaning defined above

See Words from the same year

NEW! Time Traveler

detective Synonyms

Synonyms

investigator, operative, private detective, private eye, private investigator, sherlock, sleuth;

Related Words

shadow, tail, tracer, tracker;

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

DETECTIVE Defined for English Language Learners

detective

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