gumshoe

American  

[guhm-shoo] / ˈgʌmˌʃu /

noun

1. Slang. a detective.

2. a shoe made of gum elastic or India rubber; rubber overshoe.

3. sneaker.

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verb (used without object)

gumshoed, gumshoeing

1. Slang.

   1. to work as a detective.

   2. to go softly, as if wearing rubber shoes; move or act snoopily or stealthily.

gumshoe British  

/ ˈɡʌmˌʃuː /

noun

1. a waterproof overshoe

2. a rubber-soled shoe

3. slang a detective or one who moves about stealthily

4. slang a stealthy action or movement

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verb

1. slang (intr) to act stealthily

Etymology

Origin of gumshoe

An Americanism dating back to 1860–65; gum ¹ + shoe

Example Sentences

This year, she’s vying for lead actress in a comedy for her performance as an eccentric gumshoe on the Netflix whodunit “The Residence.”

From Los Angeles Times • Aug. 13, 2025

Melling’s scenery-chewing portrayal of the budding writer — and, here, amateur gumshoe — is one of the film’s chief delights.

From Washington Post • Jan. 3, 2023

The panel does intend on continuing its gumshoe work as long as possible, and is not planning to release its final report until December.

From Seattle Times • Sep. 21, 2022

In many ways, Mickey is a throwback to a classic gumshoe, though he's in front of the jury box.

From Salon • May 21, 2022

In literature and in the popular imagination, the all-seeing private eye—the gumshoe, the cinder dick, the sleuthhound, the shadow—displaced the crusading sheriff as the archetype of rough justice.

From "Killers of the Flower Moon" by David Grann

Related Words

• detective
• sleuth