sleuth

[ slooth ]

noun

1. a detective.

   Synonyms: investigator, shamus, gumshoe, private eye, private investigator

2. a bloodhound, a dog used for tracking.

verb (used with or without object)

1. to track or trail, as a detective.

sleuth

/ sluːθ /

noun

1. an informal word for detective
2. short for sleuthhound

verb

1. tr to track or follow

Other Words From

• sleuthlike adjective
• super·sleuth noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of sleuth¹

First recorded in 1875–80; short for sleuthhound

Word History and Origins

Origin of sleuth¹

C19: short for sleuthhound, from C12 sleuth trail, from Old Norse sloth; see slot ²

Example Sentences

News of the Aix-Marseilles University report, dated January 2023, became public only this month in the French newspaper L’Express after a data sleuth asked a government agency to support its release.

From Science Magazine

Elisabeth Bik, a leading forensic image sleuth, also identified many of the problems in Cassava’s studies—and was relentlessly attacked by boosters of the company on social media.

From Science Magazine

But the piecemeal allegations leveled in the criminal and civil cases stopped short of answering an essential question that’s been hinted at by attorneys, investigators and internet sleuths: Who else was involved?

From Los Angeles Times

After his initial sleuthing, Mr Cleary contacted biographer Paul Murray - who confirmed there had been no trace of the story for over a century.

From BBC

My son is a private citizen, but the unusual and violent reaction to his autistic spelling shows similar confluences of eager internet sleuths ready to treat a seven-second clip as a Zapruder film.

From Salon

Related Words

• gumshoe
• private detective
• private eye