de·tec·tive
di-ˈtek-tiv 
1
: fitted for or used in detecting something
had perfected his detective sensibilities
2
: of or relating to detectives or their work
a detective novel
: one employed or engaged in detecting lawbreakers or in getting information that is not readily or publicly accessible
Examples of detective in a Sentence
Adjective
We had to do some detective work to find out who used to own the property.
He enjoys reading detective novels.
Noun
She is a detective on the police force.
Detective Sgt. Lee is working on the case.
She hired a detective to follow her husband.
Recent Examples on the Web
Robert Lea, Space.com, 19 Mar. 2025
Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney Trilogy covers the first three games in the series, a detective investigation series that's packed with out-of-the-box thinking and deduction.
—Mark Davis, Newsweek, 14 Mar. 2025
Staff Report, Hartford Courant, 10 Mar. 2025
Brett Payne, the lead detective in the case, said at the same hearing.
—Eric Levenson, CNN, 10 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for detective
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Adjective
By the time its mission concludes in 2030, the Euclid consortium expects the dark universe detective spacecraft to have uncovered somewhere in the region of 100,000 galaxy-galaxy-strong lenses.
—Robert Lea, Space.com, 19 Mar. 2025
Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney Trilogy covers the first three games in the series, a detective investigation series that's packed with out-of-the-box thinking and deduction.
—Mark Davis, Newsweek, 14 Mar. 2025
Noun
Following the incident, Connecticut State Police Major Crime Squad detectives allegedly seized two firearms.
—Staff Report, Hartford Courant, 10 Mar. 2025
Brett Payne, the lead detective in the case, said at the same hearing.
—Eric Levenson, CNN, 10 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for detective
Articles Related to detective
Cite this Entry
“Detective.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/detective. Accessed 24 Mar. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
detective
1 of 2 adjective
de·tec·tive
di-ˈtek-tiv
: of or relating to detectives or their work
a detective story
detective
2 of 2 noun
: a person whose business is solving crimes and catching criminals or gathering information that is not easy to get
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