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
Lawyer Sherborne has now made an application to call Burrows' evidence as hearsay, while ANL defense lawyer, Anthony White KC, asked the court to allow him to cross-examine the private investigator, the outlet stated.
—
Becca Longmire, PEOPLE, 12 Nov. 2025
Investigations found the voicemails of public figures were hacked by journalists and private investigators hired by publications who worked on the assumption that few people changed the default voicemail access code their handset came with.
—Charlotte Reck, CNN Money, 9 Nov. 2025
Determined to uncover the truth, Sarah turns to private investigator Zoë Boehm (Thompson) for help.
—Allison Degrushe, Entertainment Weekly, 6 Nov. 2025
The legal claim alleges that the department left out key details surrounding Ramirez’s Sept. 26 arrest and Oct. 3 death, and that the family’s attorney hired a private investigator who interviewed eyewitnesses.
—Nate Gartrell, Mercury News, 5 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for private investigator
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Becca Longmire, PEOPLE, 12 Nov. 2025
Investigations found the voicemails of public figures were hacked by journalists and private investigators hired by publications who worked on the assumption that few people changed the default voicemail access code their handset came with.
—Charlotte Reck, CNN Money, 9 Nov. 2025
Determined to uncover the truth, Sarah turns to private investigator Zoë Boehm (Thompson) for help.
—Allison Degrushe, Entertainment Weekly, 6 Nov. 2025
The legal claim alleges that the department left out key details surrounding Ramirez’s Sept. 26 arrest and Oct. 3 death, and that the family’s attorney hired a private investigator who interviewed eyewitnesses.
—Nate Gartrell, Mercury News, 5 Nov. 2025
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 16 Nov. 2025.
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