private detective
Americannoun
noun
Etymology
Origin of private detective
First recorded in 1865–70
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
A private detective, Auguste Bell, arrives to solve the crime.
From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 12, 2025
The move was recommended by the Daniel Morgan Independent Panel report, which looked at the force's handling of the unsolved murder of private detective Daniel Morgan.
From BBC • Sep. 29, 2025
A private detective finally found Madrigal living in Las Vegas with her oldest son, Oren, who didn’t learn about his mother’s tragic, historic past until answering the researcher’s call.
From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 2, 2024
He even hired a private detective, though he was disappointed with the man’s effort.
From Los Angeles Times • Aug. 8, 2024
Hale recruited a brooding private detective from Kansas City, who went by the name of Pike.
From "Killers of the Flower Moon" by David Grann
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
