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

Clemons worked as a co-principal investigator on the proposal for federal funding. — P.r. Lockhart, Hartford Courant, 26 Sep. 2026

However, a series of law enforcement investigators have testified the crime scene was not consistent with that story. — Eric Levenson, CNN Money, 26 Sep. 2026

Nothing else of note was found nearby, which led investigators to believe the orchard was not the crime scene. — Veronica Fulton-Mazaika, NBC news, 26 Sep. 2026

In it, David recognized phrases reminiscent of his brother’s writing style and contacted investigators about his suspicion that Ted may be the culprit. — Kelly Allen, PEOPLE, 26 Sep. 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