sleuth

[ slooth ]

noun

1. a detective.

   Synonyms: investigator, shamus, gumshoe, private eye, private investigator

2. a bloodhound, a dog used for tracking.

verb (used with or without object)

1. to track or trail, as a detective.

sleuth

/ sluːθ /

noun

1. See detective
   an informal word for detective
2. See sleuthhound
   short for sleuthhound

verb

1. tr to track or follow

Other Words From

• sleuthlike adjective
• super·sleuth noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of sleuth¹

First recorded in 1875–80; short for sleuthhound

Word History and Origins

Origin of sleuth¹

C19: short for sleuthhound, from C12 sleuth trail, from Old Norse sloth; see slot ²

Example Sentences

Judge Thomas Hogan said he knew “the government was trying” but questioned why new video was only found that day by online sleuths.

From Washington Post

Another online sleuth built an algorithm that searched the most popular Fenn-based YouTube shows to see if anyone named “Jack” had been mentioned before Stuef’s name was revealed to the public.

From Outside Online

It’s a bunch of open-access data that anyone can submit and that lots of amateur sleuths can then comb through.

From Washington Post

The reason finding the very first people with covid-19 is important is it would let disease sleuths look for shared factors, like jobs or habits.

From MIT Technology Review

Apps meant disease sleuths wouldn’t have to rely on an individual’s memory, and they could ease strain on the authorities monitoring an outbreak.

From MIT Technology Review

As a new season of the hit TV show debuts, Noah Charney asks if the famous sleuth was really all that good after all.

From The Daily Beast

If only there were some massive government apparatus available to us to sift through the metadata and sleuth these fakers out.

From The Daily Beast

Some firms charge several thousands of dollars per hour for the sleuth work of a team of six to eight investigators.

From The Daily Beast

[Styleite] On the DL: Kate Bosworth was sleuth in announcing her engagement to actor Michael Polish.

From The Daily Beast

Arthur Conan Doyle wrote 56 short stories and four novels starring his fictional sleuth.

From The Daily Beast

In arguing points of law he had the tenacity of a bull-dog and the keenness of a sleuth-hound.

From Project Gutenberg

"Red-headed party found at Woodstock," the valiant sleuth had wired with unusual delicacy and caution.

From Project Gutenberg

All we've got to do now is to play the sleuth when he leaves the cabin.

From Project Gutenberg

A thousand reporters, cunning as monkeys, active as sleuth-hounds, are on the track.

From Project Gutenberg

But she was too preoccupied with the importance of the discovery to dwell on his gifts as a sleuth.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• gumshoe
• private detective
• private eye