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.
Promoters of Colin Sutton's show claimed it would offer "an unforgettable evening of real-life detective work"
From BBC ● Sep. 16, 2026
We spoke with a researcher about this digital detective work and steps you can take to help make sure any accounts you want to be anonymous stay that way.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 8, 2026
It is also increasingly familiar as buying food in America now seemingly requires a modest talent for detective work.
From Salon ● Aug. 27, 2026
Others resurfaced only through detective work that sent Dorfan following leads that spanned decades and crossed more than a dozen borders.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 14, 2026
"You girls sure do take this detective work seriously," he commented as he walked with them to the large hinged gate.
From "Pony Problems: Nancy Drew and the Clue Crew, #3" by Carolyn Keene
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.
