sleuth
Americannoun
-
a detective.
- Synonyms:
- shamus, gumshoe, private eye, private investigator, investigator
-
a bloodhound, a dog used for tracking.
verb (used with or without object)
noun
-
an informal word for detective
-
short for sleuthhound
verb
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Etymology
Origin of sleuth
First recorded in 1875–80; short for sleuthhound
Explanation
Sleuth is a fun, sometimes playful, word for "detective." As a verb, it's also what a detective does. When you seek clues, you sleuth. You, sleuth, you! The word sleuth comes from the Old Norse sloth, meaning "trail" and sleuthing is following a trail. One type of bloodhound skilled at following trails is called a sleuthhound, and that word was shortened to sleuth in the late 19th Century, referring to an investigator. As an amateur sleuth, you caught the robber dressed as a mummy before the police did. He would have escaped if not for you, you meddling sleuth!
Vocabulary lists containing sleuth
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This Week in Words: Current Events Vocab for October 29–November 4, 2022
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Restaurant Critic Pete Wells' Yummy Words
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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:
Arable farmers may soon be able to stop slugs eating their crops thanks to research by a Shropshire-based university and the work of "slug sleuth" farmers.
From BBC ● Jul. 7, 2026
Preparations for the event have been conducted in the utmost secrecy, with top reporters from the usually staid New York Times forced to sleuth through local hotels for hints of the guest list.
From Barron's ● Jul. 1, 2026
"There are some similarities between me and my main character but she's much grumpier than me. I'd make a useless sleuth," said Perry.
From BBC ● Jun. 2, 2026
This semi-comedic and definitely cozy amateur sleuth series is perfect multigenerational viewing.
From Los Angeles Times ● Dec. 17, 2025
Declared books are flagged for all users to see, alerting every book sleuth to the hidden book that is now worth double points.
From "Book Scavenger" by Jennifer Chambliss Bertman
So when things go badly inside the opaque world of many private schools, it can be left to parents, police, journalists and amateur sleuths to find and expose wrongdoing.
From Salon ● Jul. 27, 2026
For posts beyond the reach of my inbox, there’s a risk in putting that information out there because nefarious sleuths can figure out more than you think.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 22, 2026
Some are by amateur forensic analysts and would-be internet sleuths with podcast names like The Murder Men that dissect the killing as if it’s a 1980s cold case.
From Slate ● Jul. 21, 2026
Independent journalists, online sleuths and criminal case followers traveled from across the country to track developments on the missing child’s case.
From Los Angeles Times ● May 29, 2026
The sleuths just paper-chased him through the burg.
From Punch, or the London Charivari, Vol. 158, June 9, 1920 by Various
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
