detective

1 of 2

adjective

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

detectivelike

di-ˈtek-tiv-ˌlīk 

adjective

detective

2 of 2

noun

: 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

Synonyms of detective

Noun

• investigator
• operative

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

The usual pleasures of reading about the courtroom—the vicarious thrill of being both detective and jury—give way to the slower burn of cultural analysis. — S. C. Cornell, New Yorker, 29 Sep. 2026

Grisebach toys with the contours of a western, a crime thriller, even a detective story, only to strip them of their familiar momentum. — Taylor Antrim, Vogue, 19 Sep. 2026

Noun

In the new update, Jordan is playing Tubbs while Butler is playing Crockett, the two swagger-strutting detectives. — Borys Kit, HollywoodReporter, 30 Sep. 2026

Video released Wednesday morning captured the moments when a Kansas City Police Department detective and a Clay County Sheriff’s deputy rescued a man from a pickup truck that was engulfed in flames. — Kansas City Star, 30 Sep. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

1732, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun

1842, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing detective

• house detective
• private detective

Rhymes for detective

• advective
• affective
• collective
• connective
• convective
• corrective
• defective
• directive
• effective
• elective
• infective
• injective

Kids 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

Legal Definition

detective

noun

de·​tec·​tive

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

a police detective

hired a private detective