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

• experimenter
• 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

Although investigators back then turned their focus away from Lincks, Alma Police detectives returned to his name while conducting a review of the probe's preliminary stages during the summer of 2019. —Emily Mae Czachor, CBS News, 2 Oct. 2024

After they were sent to the crime lab, investigators determined that one of the hairs could have belonged to a member of Morgan’s family, including the girl herself. —Liam Quinn, People.com, 1 Oct. 2024

Police are asking anyone with information on the shooting to contact investigators at 317-782-4934 or [e-mail]. —Jade Jackson, The Indianapolis Star, 1 Oct. 2024

Federal investigators from the National Transportation Safety Board concluded the Dali’s electrical and mechanical systems were improperly maintained and configured in a way that violated safety regulations and norms for international shipping. —Glenn Taylor, Sourcing Journal, 30 Sep. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1538, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing investigator

• co-investigator
• private investigator