Federal Bureau of Investigation

British  

noun

1. See FBI

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Federal Bureau of Investigation Cultural  

1. An agency of the United States federal government, long headed by J. Edgar Hoover, which investigates violations of federal (rather than state or local) laws, including kidnaping, smuggling narcotics, and espionage.

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Established in 1908 under the Department of Justice, the FBI earned its reputation in the 1920s and 1930s by apprehending notorious bank robbers and gangsters.

Example Sentences

You can also file a report with the Internet Crime Complaint Center, a division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

From MarketWatch • Mar. 23, 2026

Mueller, who routinely shunned the limelight throughout his law-enforcement career, largely vanished from public view after his departure from the Federal Bureau of Investigation in 2013.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 21, 2026

Suspect Ndiaga Diagne, 53 years old, wasn’t previously known to the Federal Bureau of Investigation or Austin police, authorities said.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 2, 2026

The Federal Bureau of Investigation is leading the inquiry, working to compile a psychological profile and gather evidence about why he traveled south and armed himself before the breach.

From Salon • Feb. 22, 2026

In 1942, in the middle of World War II, some strange letters came to the attention of the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

From "The Woman All Spies Fear" by Amy Butler Greenfield