detective

American  

[dih-tek-tiv] / dɪˈtɛk tɪv /

noun

1. a member of the police force or a private investigator whose function is to obtain information and evidence, as of offenses against the law.

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adjective

1. of or relating to detection or detectives.

   a detective story.

2. serving to detect; detecting.

   various detective devices.

detective British  

/ dɪˈtɛktɪv /

noun

1. 1. a police officer who investigates crimes

   2. See private detective

   3. ( as modifier )

      a detective story

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adjective

1. used in or serving for detection

2. serving to detect

Etymology

Origin of detective

First recorded in 1830–40; detect + -ive

Explanation

Whether it's a police detective who investigates crimes or a private detective hired to find a missing person, a detective is someone whose job is to find out hard-to-get information. Detective comes from the Latin root detectus meaning to uncover or expose. Detectives detect, or discern and uncover the truth, the way a dog might detect an odor and uncover a bone. Sherlock Holmes, perhaps the most famous detective in fiction, used disguises, deductive reasoning and forensics to solve crimes. "When you have eliminated the impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the truth," he famously said.

Example Sentences

The bonus was that Ella Maisy Purvis made Patience Evans an endearingly awkward ad-hoc detective during the show’s premiere season.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 11, 2026

But weeks later, in a police interview room, a detective pulled the rug from under his feet telling him that he knew McCullagh's carefully crafted alibi was false.

From BBC • Jun. 3, 2026

Shabnam Chaudri, a former senior Met detective with 30 years' experience, rejected the idea anti-racism training could account for how officers responded the night Henry Nowak was killed.

From BBC • Jun. 3, 2026

He played testimony on Grossman’s speed from an Orange County detective who is an expert in crash investigations.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 2, 2026

They called themselves the Clue Crew and had a detective headquarters in Nancy's bedroom.

From "Pony Problems: Nancy Drew and the Clue Crew, #3" by Carolyn Keene

Related Words

• agent
• informer
• police officer
• private eye
• private investigator
• prosecutor
• reporter
• sleuth
• spy