detective work
Americannoun
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the professional activities of a detective; the activities involved in uncovering clues and making deductions leading to the identification of suspects in a crime.
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any activity that involves making careful observations or seeking out facts that are difficult to access, analyzing the information, and drawing conclusions.
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.
The research team, led by the University of Bradford, says the new discovery is "exciting" and the methodology could be replicated to do more art detective work.
From BBC ● May 1, 2026
Online detective work is nothing new but has gained attention in recent years.
From Los Angeles Times ● Feb. 18, 2026
Years of detailed investigation followed, which Wright describes as "painstaking sleuthing and detective work."
From Science Daily ● Jan. 22, 2026
It’s classic deductive detective work meets Japanese comfort fare.
From Salon ● Dec. 26, 2025
“And I hope it teaches you a lesson! No more detective work, or I’ll write to Mum!”
From "Harry Potter And The Chamber Of Secrets" by J. K. Rowling
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.
