private detective

noun

: private investigator

Synonyms of private detective

• detective
• investigator
• private eye
• private investigator

Examples of private detective in a Sentence

when the police insisted that it was an accident and not murder, she hired a private detective

Recent Examples on the Web

Andy Anderson, once a private detective for Griffin Investigations, demonstrated this remarkable feat of motivated reasoning in the 2004 documentary The Hot Shoe. — Kit Chellel, Fortune, 5 Oct. 2026

Along the way, Savannah was joined by her father who, in his youth, had been a private detective. — Oline H. Cogdill, Sun Sentinel, 1 Oct. 2026

After a lot of private detective work, Jenn managed to locate Nouela Johnston in Seattle and flew in her and her percussionist, Joe Mengis, to play her songs. — James Gunn, Rolling Stone, 27 Sep. 2026

Bernadette Peters will play Coco Van Beck, the aforementioned queen of San Francisco society who enlists private detective Julie (Estrada) and her operative Charles on the case. — Rick Porter, HollywoodReporter, 23 Sep. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1861, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for private detective

• radioprotective
• stereoselective
• advective
• affective
• collective
• connective
• convective
• corrective
• defective
• directive
• effective
• elective

Kids Definition

private detective

noun

: private investigator

Legal Definition

private detective

noun

: private investigator