special agent

noun

1. an investigator in a law enforcement agency.
2. an insurance sales representative.

Word History and Origins

Origin of special agent¹

An Americanism dating back to 1830–40

Example Sentences

Andrew Eiseman is a retired special agent with the Drug Enforcement Administration who operates a popular YouTube channel called the “Sports Card Investigator.”

From Washington Post

“These groups want to be instigators, the frontline of the civil war that is going to happen in this country,” said John Bennett, who was the special agent in charge of the FBI’s San Francisco Division at the time of Carrillo’s arrest.

From ProPublica

While consular officers keep working to confirm victims’ names, special agents from Immigration and Customs Enforcement began piecing together how 25 adults came to be crammed into a vehicle meant for no more than eight.

From ProPublica

I’m just trying to make sure we cover what will happen to the special agents as well.

From Washington Post

A Fish and Wildlife special agent collected the bodies of two birds at the site, a redhead duck and a mourning dove.

From The Daily Beast

He returned to TV in Chicago Hope, before landing NCIS, a spinoff from JAG in 2003, playing Special Agent Leroy Jethro Gibbs.

From The Daily Beast

Special Agent Xavier Diaz testified he once drove five hours west of the city to meet Arambula in Nogales, Arizona.

From The Daily Beast

FBI Assistant Special Agent Robert Howe told The Daily Beast that it took the team two hours to identify the spot.

From The Daily Beast

In his testimony, Flemmi claimed that when Bulger first introduced him to special agent Connolly at a coffee shop in Newton.

From The Daily Beast

A special agent is authorized to do a specific thing, to sell a home, buy a horse, or effect some particular end or purpose.

From Project Gutenberg

If I, in writing, authorize my special agent to sell my Ink-stand for a dollar, I am bound by his act in obedience thereto.

From Project Gutenberg

The three of us and Special Agent Greer pushed him into the emergency area.

From Project Gutenberg

Special Agent Youngblood's action came immediately after the first shot and before the succeeding shots.

From Project Gutenberg

Judge G. Mott, another special agent, who had been dispatched to examine Nesmiths superintendency, did the same.

From Project Gutenberg