private investigator
noun
: a person not a member of a police force who is licensed to do detective work (such as investigation of suspected wrongdoing or searching for missing persons)
Examples of private investigator in a Sentence
She hired a private investigator to follow her husband.
the retired policeman decided to become a private investigator
Recent Examples on the Web
Meanwhile, the victims were still being intimidated by Epstein’s private investigators.
—
Julie K. Brown, Miami Herald, 4 June 2026
Though an exhaustive search was conducted, including an intensive investigation by authorities, private investigators and true-crime enthusiasts, Natalee, who was 18 at the time, was never found.
—Lynsey Eidell, PEOPLE, 30 May 2026
Prime Video’s Spider-Noir set in the sultry crime world of Depression-era New York City, follows an older Spider-Man, Ben Reilly, now working as a private investigator after leaving his superhero past behind him.
—Destiny Jackson, Deadline, 30 May 2026
Set in 1930s New York, the show follows Ben, a private investigator who’s been in a rut since the death of a loved one.
—Olivia Singh, Forbes.com, 27 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for private investigator
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Julie K. Brown, Miami Herald, 4 June 2026
Though an exhaustive search was conducted, including an intensive investigation by authorities, private investigators and true-crime enthusiasts, Natalee, who was 18 at the time, was never found.
—Lynsey Eidell, PEOPLE, 30 May 2026
Prime Video’s Spider-Noir set in the sultry crime world of Depression-era New York City, follows an older Spider-Man, Ben Reilly, now working as a private investigator after leaving his superhero past behind him.
—Destiny Jackson, Deadline, 30 May 2026
Set in 1930s New York, the show follows Ben, a private investigator who’s been in a rut since the death of a loved one.
—Olivia Singh, Forbes.com, 27 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for private investigator
Cite this Entry
“Private investigator.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/private%20investigator. Accessed 7 Jun. 2026.
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