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
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of private investigator
Following her retirement, Albrecht became a private investigator.
—
Veronica Fulton, NBC news, 5 Feb. 2026
During the Season 3 finale, DA Haller questioned private investigator Neil Bishop, who admitted he was blackmailed into working for Drug Enforcement Administration agent James De Marco.
—Saleen Martin, USA Today, 4 Feb. 2026
Police in Oklahoma found the young girl a week and a half later, Brooke Morris said, after a private investigator discovered that her image had been posted in online advertisements.
—Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 4 Feb. 2026
After his retirement from the DEA, Recio worked as a private investigator for Macey and other South Florida defense attorneys.
—Jay Weaver, Miami Herald, 31 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for private investigator
Veronica Fulton, NBC news, 5 Feb. 2026
During the Season 3 finale, DA Haller questioned private investigator Neil Bishop, who admitted he was blackmailed into working for Drug Enforcement Administration agent James De Marco.
—Saleen Martin, USA Today, 4 Feb. 2026
Police in Oklahoma found the young girl a week and a half later, Brooke Morris said, after a private investigator discovered that her image had been posted in online advertisements.
—Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 4 Feb. 2026
After his retirement from the DEA, Recio worked as a private investigator for Macey and other South Florida defense attorneys.
—Jay Weaver, Miami Herald, 31 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for private investigator
Recent Examples of Synonyms for private investigator
Noun
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The lead detective investigating the murder of University of Miami football star Bryan Pata, testifying in court Tuesday, said cell phone records placed Pata’s former teammate near the Kendall murder scene and a UM professor picked him out of photo lineup.—
Grethel Aguila,
Miami Herald,
24 Feb. 2026
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She’s worked in the county in a variety of roles, like as a detective, a crime scene evidence technician and a field training officer.—
Molly Morrow,
Chicago Tribune,
24 Feb. 2026
Noun
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The sheriff's office confirmed investigators are looking into investigative genetic genealogy, a relatively new forensic tool made possible by the rise in popularity of consumer genetic testing, where people can send their DNA to find out about their ancestry and locate potential relatives.—
Jeanine Santucci,
USA Today,
22 Feb. 2026
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The defense attorney has told the judge that Dratman and Fischer failed to call up a witness who gave investigators an alibi for Serafini on the day his wife’s parents were shot.—
Rosalio Ahumada,
Sacbee.com,
21 Feb. 2026
Noun
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When his teams didn’t entertain, Moe became the show, this cursing, grumbling, rumpled 6-foot-5 firebrand who dressed like a ’70s private detective, a disheveled anti-hero who detested suits.—
Sean Keeler,
Denver Post,
18 Feb. 2026
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Eventually, a private detective tracked down the Whiteheads in Holiday, Florida, and Baby M, as the child was known in the news, was brought back to the Sterns.—
Ava Kofman,
New Yorker,
9 Feb. 2026
Noun
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Princess Lilibet and her brother, Prince Archie, 6, are often kept out of the private eye by their parents, but the siblings have recently been featured in a number of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex's photos — and some of their philanthropic work.—
Charlotte Phillipp,
PEOPLE,
17 Jan. 2026
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On Friday, the network added a comedy, a private eye show from Brooklyn Nine-Nine alumni Dan Goor and Luke Del Tredici.—
Rick Porter,
HollywoodReporter,
16 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Private investigator.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/private%20investigator. Accessed 26 Feb. 2026.
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