Dictionary.com

private detective

See synonyms for private detective on Thesaurus.com

noun

a detective who is not a member of an official force but is employed by private parties.

QUIZZES

LEARN THE SPANISH WORDS FOR THESE COMMON ANIMALS!

Are you learning Spanish? Or do you just have an interest in foreign languages? Either way, this quiz on Spanish words for animals is for you.
Question 1 of 13
How do you say “cat” 🐈 in Spanish?
gato/gata
cato/cata
gatto/gatta
TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT
Also called private investigator.

Origin of private detective

First recorded in 1865–70

Words nearby private detective

private, private bar, private bill, private brand, private company, private detective, private duty nurse, private enterprise, private equity, private-equity company, private equity fund
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2021

Words related to private detective

detective, private eye, gumshoe, sleuth, eye, inspector, investigator, operative, beagle, dick, flatfoot, skip tracer, sleuthhound, spotter, tec

British Dictionary definitions for private detective

private detective

noun

an individual privately employed to investigate a crime, keep watch on a suspected person, or make other inquiriesAlso called: private investigator
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012