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 In an interview with a neighbor, the private investigators learned that there was a cargo van outside the house at the time. — Jeremy Greenberg, ABC News, 17 Aug. 2026 Priestley and Sampson are reprising their roles as private investigators Matt Shade and Angie Everett. — Erik Pedersen, Deadline, 17 Aug. 2026 What begins as a brief stop turns into a much longer stay when Reacher meets Michelle Chang, a former FBI agent turned private investigator who’s searching for her missing colleague, Keever. — Britt Hayes, Entertainment Weekly, 17 Aug. 2026 Maria Sten, a regular in seasons two and three of Reacher, plays the title character, a private investigator in Chicago and Jack Reacher’s former colleague in the Army’s 110th Special Investigations Unit. — Rick Porter, HollywoodReporter, 12 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
  • Back at his Brickell apartment, detectives searched the unit after a judge signed off on a warrant.
    — Milena Malaver, Miami Herald, 5 Sep. 2026
  • About a month after Craig’s death, police homicide detectives released security camera video of a suspect in the Oak Park fatal shooting.
    — Rosalio Ahumada, Sacbee.com, 4 Sep. 2026
Definition of detective
Noun
  • The affidavit also stated that representatives for the NFL and the San Francisco 49ers told investigators that Love had never been employed by either organization.
    — Joshua Hong, Fortune, 5 Sep. 2026
  • Homicide investigators and crime scene technicians canvassed the area for evidence and witnesses.
    — Joseph Hernandez, Kansas City Star, 5 Sep. 2026
Definition of investigator
Noun
  • Next month, Minotaur Books will publish the private detective mystery Killer Vibes by Jack Friday–or as readers will recognize him, John Fram.
    — Caroline Reilly, Forbes.com, 30 June 2026
  • The book introduced readers to Easy Rawlins, a private detective in mid-20th-century Watts who would go on to figure into more than 15 novels (and counting).
    — Michael Schaub, Oc Register, 25 June 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 7 Sep. 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!

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of gist

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

A List of Most Commonly Confused Words

Why do we use apostrophes to show possession?

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

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

Popular in Wordplay

See More

The Longest Long Words List

Stay Woke

Ye Olde Nincompoop: Old-Fashioned Words for 'Stupid'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Words of the Week - Sept. 4
See More

Popular

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

The Longest Long Words List

Stay Woke
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
anagrams on a chalk board
Word Builder Quiz Vol. 2 Pick the letter that when added to a word will ma...
See All