investigator

noun

in·​ves·​ti·​ga·​tor in-ˈve-stə-ˌgā-tər 

plural investigators

: one who investigates something: such as

a

: detective

a private investigator

Debra Winger plays the investigator who becomes fixated on identifying a killer …

—Margaret Rauch

b

: a person who conducts experiments or is involved in scientific studies for research

the lead investigator in a clinical trial

For dialect recording, it is best for the investigator to take down as full and accurate notes as possible without slowing down the pace of the interview.

—Ravin I. McDavid, Jr.

Synonyms of investigator

• researcher

Examples of investigator in a Sentence

investigators who discovered new evidence that the universe was much older than had been previously estimated

the investigator in charge of the case was touted as an expert at tracing stolen art

Recent Examples on the Web

The woman was later found by investigators in Tampa, Florida. — Caroline Zimmerman, Kansas City Star, 22 July 2026

Mayfield was arrested on charges during a traffic stop conducted while investigators were searching the residence. — Stepheny Price, FOXNews.com, 22 July 2026

The warehouse-club records that broke the salami case were pulled because investigators already suspected the warehouse club. — John Drake, Forbes.com, 22 July 2026

Jurors also heard testimony from investigators and gang experts about the rivalries, alliances and subgroups that make up Sacramento’s street gang landscape. — Reeti Malhotra, Sacbee.com, 21 July 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1538, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing investigator

• co-investigator
• private investigator

Rhymes for investigator

• accelerator
• accumulator
• adjudicator
• administrator
• appropriator
• articulator
• attenuator
• bronchodilator
• collaborator
• communicator
• conciliator
• cooperator