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.
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
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
After hours of amateur detective work, Vic found out that his real name was actually—well, let’s just say his name was José Rey.
From Slate ● Oct. 27, 2025
"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.
