detective
dih-TEK-tiv
/dɪˈtɛktɪv/
An investigator, typically a police officer, who gathers evidence and solves crimes.
Focuses on detailed analysis and post-crime investigation rather than routine uniformed patrol.
The story behind the word. Detective comes from Latin 'de-' (un-) and 'tegere' (to cover). Thus, a detective is literally someone who uncovers that which was hidden or covered up.
Word relationships
- investigator: Investigator is a general term, whereas detective often denotes a specific legal rank or position.
- sleuth: Sleuth is an informal or literary synonym for detective.
Commonly confused with
- patrol officer: A patrol officer responds to active incidents; a detective conducts deep, long-term crime investigations.
Word family
- detect (verb): To discover or notice the presence of something
- detection (noun): The act or process of discovering something hidden
Collocations
- lead detective
- police detective
- detective agency
- detective work
Idioms & expressions
- play detective
Example sentences
- "The lead detective spent weeks gathering forensic evidence to uncover the perpetrator's identity." Police investigation
- "The corporation hired a private detective to investigate corporate espionage." Private sector
Memory hook
A DETECTIVE removes the COVER to reveal the truth. Uncover hidden facts.
When not to use
Do not use to describe standard uniformed officers whose primary job is routine patrol.
Fun facts
- The word 'detective' was popularized in 1842 when London's Metropolitan Police created its first dedicated detective department.
Related words
Explore more words
investigative, forensic, interrogate, critique, unravel, Analysis
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