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

According to investigators, 24-year-old Ruby Lorenzo of Escalon was driving eastbound on Highway 50 when her vehicle collided with another car. — Carmela Karcher, CBS News, 12 Aug. 2026

Detectives and crime scene investigators responded to the area and collected evidence and looked for possible witnesses and surveillance video. — Kansas City Star, 11 Aug. 2026

Prior to his car going off the roadway, investigators have not ruled out the possibility that Howard suffered a medical episode, according to the release. — Shambhavi Rimal, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 11 Aug. 2026

During the police investigation of the couple’s home following his arrest, investigators reportedly found locks on the bedroom doors. — Kevin Dolak, HollywoodReporter, 11 Aug. 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