private investigator

noun

Definition of private investigatornext
as in detective
a person not on the police force who investigates criminal or illicit activity or searches for missing persons the retired policeman decided to become a private investigator

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of private investigator An ultra-Orthodox private investigator named Avi Lehrer called Shraga and claimed to have bank records showing that Netanyahu and his family held millions of dollars in offshore accounts. — Ruth Margalit, New Yorker, 19 Sep. 2026 At the news conference Monday, Khalil also accused the university of surveilling pro-Palestinian students and hiring private investigators to monitor him. — Sudhin Thanawala, Los Angeles Times, 14 Sep. 2026 Instead of being someone who attracts trouble like Jack Reacher, Neagley is a private investigator who chooses her battles. — ABC News, 11 Sep. 2026 In his latest novel, an American private investigator gets out of his depth while on an assignment in Istanbul to locate a billionaire’s runaway daughter. — Monitor Reviewers, Christian Science Monitor, 21 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for private investigator
Recent Examples of Synonyms for private investigator
  1. detective
  2. investigator
  3. private detective
  4. private eye
Noun
  • The scripts were written based on their own reporting, including court documents, investigation transcripts, and interviews with detectives, witnesses, and even Laurie Valdez, an old friend of Wuornos’ who’d never previously spoken with the press.
    — Elisabeth Garber-Paul, Rolling Stone, 3 Oct. 2026
  • Sharon Raydor, played by Mary McDonnell, in charge of her team, an endearing, quirky crew of veteran detectives who show up en masse at every crime scene like Mystery Incorporated.
    — Yvonne Villarreal, Los Angeles Times, 2 Oct. 2026
Definition of detective
Noun
  • The first trial of Payton and Dandrae Martin lasted weeks and included extensive testimony from police investigators, gang experts and the defendants themselves.
    — Daniel Hunt, Sacbee.com, 3 Oct. 2026
  • By that time, investigators had run down anonymous tips, interviewed witnesses and contacted attorneys hired by the accused, the documents show.
    — Aaron Katersky, ABC News, 3 Oct. 2026
Definition of investigator
Noun
  • Along the way, Savannah was joined by her father who, in his youth, had been a private detective.
    — Oline H. Cogdill, Sun Sentinel, 1 Oct. 2026
  • After a lot of private detective work, Jenn managed to locate Nouela Johnston in Seattle and flew in her and her percussionist, Joe Mengis, to play her songs.
    — James Gunn, Rolling Stone, 27 Sep. 2026
Definition of private detective
Noun
  • That’s how John Sugar goes from conscientious private eye to would-be assassin.
    — Andy Andersen, Vulture, 24 July 2026
  • There are vivid characters—the rich, distinguished crook Brandon, the platinum-blond secretary Miss Vermilyea; Javonen, ex-military intelligence, and seedy private eye from Kansas, Noble, who might have lurched out of an early Graham Greene story.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 23 July 2026
Definition of private eye

Browse Nearby Words

private eyes
private investigator
private investigators
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Private investigator.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/private%20investigator. Accessed 5 Oct. 2026.

Copy Citation
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Do You Need a New Language Peeve?

More Commonly Mispronounced Words

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

7 Great Ways to Say 'Great'

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World
See More

Popular

See More

Do You Need a New Language Peeve?

7 Great Ways to Say 'Great'

The Longest Long Words List
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
name tags
Words Named After People Quiz Find out who’s behind "leotard," "morphine," an...
See All