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
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.
Ravin I. McDavid, Jr.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
Federal investigators in 2025 determined Hart had installed software enabling Jane Doe’s computer to be remotely accessed and monitored, according to the suit.
—Tony Saavedra, Oc Register, 24 Jan. 2026
Police investigated, but the case went cold for five decades until DNA and genealogy recently led investigators to a suspect.
—Teri Figueroa, San Diego Union-Tribune, 23 Jan. 2026
The 14-year-old’s girlfriend told investigators that Givens had threatened over Snapchat to kill her 1½-year-old son and that the 14-year-old was upset about it, the complaint says.
—Nick Ferraro, Twin Cities, 23 Jan. 2026
In June, Tran pleaded guilty to three state charges of stealing a gun from an elderly person who was also one of his constituents, then misleading investigators.
—Tim Dunn, Boston Herald, 23 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for investigator
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Tony Saavedra, Oc Register, 24 Jan. 2026
Police investigated, but the case went cold for five decades until DNA and genealogy recently led investigators to a suspect.
—Teri Figueroa, San Diego Union-Tribune, 23 Jan. 2026
The 14-year-old’s girlfriend told investigators that Givens had threatened over Snapchat to kill her 1½-year-old son and that the 14-year-old was upset about it, the complaint says.
—Nick Ferraro, Twin Cities, 23 Jan. 2026
In June, Tran pleaded guilty to three state charges of stealing a gun from an elderly person who was also one of his constituents, then misleading investigators.
—Tim Dunn, Boston Herald, 23 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for investigator
Cite this Entry
“Investigator.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/investigator. Accessed 28 Jan. 2026.
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