special agent
Americannoun
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an investigator in a law enforcement agency.
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an insurance sales representative.
Etymology
Origin of special agent
An Americanism dating back to 1830–40
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.
Matt McCool, special agent in charge of the Secret Service’s New York field office, said his agency would deploy drones, specialized tactical teams and operational resources to identify potential threats.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 8, 2026
“They didn’t discriminate on who they hated,” Mark Remer, the FBI special agent in charge, told reporters last week.
From Slate • May 26, 2026
He and special agent John Douglas were paired up to visit police stations across the country to “talk shop” with the various officers and gather files about local crimes to better profile violent criminals.
From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 2, 2026
FBI special agent Alex Doran said earlier Sunday that a motive for the attack was not known but "there were indicators on the subject and in his vehicle that indicate a potential nexus to terrorism."
From Barron's • Mar. 1, 2026
Becoming a special agent was his way of serving his country, he said.
From "Killers of the Flower Moon" by David Grann
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.
