Synonyms

house detective

American

noun

an employee of a department store, hotel, etc., employed to prevent thefts, violations of regulations, or other forms of misconduct on the part of patrons.

Etymology

Origin of house detective

An Americanism dating back to 1895–1900

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.

See Examples For:

house detective

He’s got the look of a house detective.

From Golf Digest ● Mar. 27, 2020

Another principal figure was the arrested Hilton Hotel house detective, 39-year-old Ed Murphy.

From Slate ● Jul. 11, 2012

I was asked more than once to leave the Plaza Hotel, ushered out by the house detective.

From New York Times ● May 28, 2012

"Texas," however, stopped to call on the house detective.

From Time Magazine Archive

“Bother your grandmother,” shot back the insolent 12 retort, whereat the lordly house detective plucked the young man by the arm.

From Officer 666 by Currie, Barton Wood

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023