investigator

noun

in·​ves·​ti·​ga·​tor in-ˈve-stə-ˌgā-tər How to pronounce investigator (audio)
plural investigators
Synonyms of investigatornext
: 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

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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The investigators from the Attorney General’s Office searched the agency’s office building through the day Wednesday, locking out its employees. ABC News, 3 June 2026 Two weeks after Soto died, sheriff’s investigators arrested Hamid on suspicion of homicide in the shooting. Rosalio Ahumada, Sacbee.com, 3 June 2026 According to investigators, officers received reports at the time that a driver had fired multiple shots at another vehicle. Dan Raby, CBS News, 3 June 2026 More than 30 years after an Illinois mother was found beaten to death in a rural field, authorities on Tuesday announced murder charges against a 70-year-old suspect in a cold case that investigators said never stopped haunting the community or the victim’s family. Alexandra Koch, FOXNews.com, 27 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for investigator

Word History

First Known Use

1538, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of investigator was in 1538

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Cite this Entry

“Investigator.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/investigator. Accessed 5 Jun. 2026.

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