provocateur

noun

pro·​vo·​ca·​teur prō-ˌvä-kə-ˈtər How to pronounce provocateur (audio)
1
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."

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
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.
Shocks to your sense of emotional security awaken your inner provocateur as Mars and Uranus clash! Usa Today, USA Today, 15 June 2025 But most Republicans remained silent, or accused Padilla of being a provocateur. James Rainey, Los Angeles Times, 13 June 2025 Super Bowl ads, which had become venues to showcase corporate values, were neutral enough this year to win faint praise from arch-conservative provocateur Matt Walsh. Liz Hoffman, semafor.com, 5 June 2025 Researchers have been investigating this mystery and identified potential head-pounding provocateurs. Amy McGorry, FOXNews.com, 9 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for provocateur

Word History

First Known Use

1919, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of provocateur was in 1919

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Cite this Entry

“Provocateur.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/provocateur. Accessed 1 Jul. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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