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

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!

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

sleuth sleuths

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

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

“At its center is Beast Mode: the 510’s legendary fixer and freelance sleuth whose rough exterior hides a code of loyalty and willingness to deal with problems others won’t touch,” the release reads.

From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 13, 2026

But she’s a reluctant sleuth in a knotty case with a head full of noise and a shaky hand on the lighter.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 13, 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

Internet sleuths spotted sets of numbers in posters around the chippy which they worked out to be the map co-ordinates for Celtic's Parkhead stadium.

From BBC ● Sep. 4, 2026

Nonetheless, internet sleuths sussed out that the shirt Chao is wearing on the July 26 photo appears to be the same one she was seen wearing on July 15.

From Salon ● Aug. 3, 2026

Unlike Simpson’s case, which ended in acquittals, the kidnapping attracted a new generation of amateur sleuths, livestreaming hours of content, conjecture and rumor each day to hundreds of thousands of online followers.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 2, 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

Of course, I asked myself that question, and I also wondered why the sleuths of Smith's had not reported the fact, if it were a fact, to the hotel headquarters.

From Cupid's Middleman by Edward B. Lent

Related Words

• gumshoe
• private detective
• private eye