provocateur

noun

pro·​vo·​ca·​teur prō-ˌvä-kə-ˈtər 

1

: agent provocateur

2

: one who provokes

a political provocateur

Did you know?

In "provocateur," a word borrowed directly from French, one sees the English verb "provoke." Both "provoke" and "provocateur" derive from Latin provocare, meaning "to call forth." Why do we say "provocateur" for one who incites another to action, instead of simply "provoker"? Perhaps it's because of "agent provocateur," a term of French origin that literally means "provoking agent." Both "agent provocateur" and the shortened "provocateur" can refer to someone (such as an undercover police officer or a political operative) whose job is to incite people to break the law so that they can be arrested, but only "provocateur" is used in English with the more general sense of "one who provokes."

Synonyms

• agitator
• demagogue
• demagog
• exciter
• firebrand
• fomenter
• incendiary
• inciter
• instigator
• kindler
• rabble-rouser

Examples of provocateur in a Sentence

a calculating provocateur, she has made a career out of controversy for its own sake

Recent Examples on the Web

A couple of weeks ago, the provocateur Laura Loomer got the White House to force the firing of some of his aides, which was a little like taking personnel advice from Lyndon LaRouche. —The Editors, National Review, 2 May 2025

In a flash, the internet provocateur struck with a loaded punch, dropping Styles to the mat. —Russ Weakland, EW.com, 15 Apr. 2025

The hip hop provocateur assured worried fans that everything was OK. —Karu F. Daniels, New York Daily News, 15 Apr. 2025

Throughout her tenure in the lower chamber, Crockett has emerged as a provocateur, boosting her profile within the Democratic party over the last year. —Sophia Vento, The Hill, 12 Apr. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1919, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing provocateur

• agent provocateur

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