sleuth

American  

[slooth] / sluθ /

noun

• sleuths
  plural

1. a detective.

   Synonyms:

   shamus, gumshoe, private eye, private investigator, investigator

2. a bloodhound, a dog used for tracking.

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verb (used with or without object)

1. to track or trail, as a detective.

sleuth British  

/ sluːθ /

noun

1. an informal word for detective

2. short for sleuthhound

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verb

1. (tr) to track or follow

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• supersleuth
  noun
• sleuthlike
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• sleuths
  plural

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Etymology

Origin of sleuth

First recorded in 1875–80; short for sleuthhound

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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!

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

sleuth sleuths

One new sleuth is Carter Church, a 27-year-old AI engineer who decrypted a 19th-century letter to one of Napoleon's generals.

From Barron's ● Oct. 16, 2026

For some amici, I’d sleuth the internet for email addresses, then send a note succinctly explaining our appeal.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 2, 2026

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

Last year, Mansell got connected to the self-styled internet sleuth, whose real name is Benjamin Schneider.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 26, 2026

And there she comes, strawberry-haired Nancy Drew, the girl sleuth, so American and so sure of herself, wearing a round collared blouse and a pencil skirt, wielding her magnifying glass.

From "Lucky Broken Girl" by Ruth Behar

Many online sleuths were quick to pull out clips from Ethan’s past that might have foreshadowed this incident, including in Oct.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 23, 2026

The two series return—for seasons 2 and 5, respectively—with their idiosyncratic sleuths and generally more charming casts of supporting characters.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 15, 2026

The case has sent internet sleuths scouring digital footprints for clues to track them down.

From Barron's ● Oct. 15, 2026

The lawyer for the woman who alleges she was raped at a Cornell University fraternity house says she is "not doing well" as she finds herself "under siege" from online sleuths seeking to identity her.

From BBC ● Oct. 2, 2026

Every trick known to the thick-soled sleuths of the sheriff's office was thwarted by the vigilant and resourceful Henry.

From John Marsh's Millions by Arthur Hornblow

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Related Words

• gumshoe
• private detective
• private eye

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