private investigator
noun
: a person not a member of a police force who is licensed to do detective work (such as investigation of suspected wrongdoing or searching for missing persons)
Synonyms
Examples of private investigator in a Sentence
She hired a private investigator to follow her husband.
the retired policeman decided to become a private investigator
Recent Examples on the Web
That meeting alone is enough for a federal corruption probe, according to Tom Brennan, the family's private investigator for nearly a decade and a former Pennsylvania state trooper.
—
Michael Ruiz, Fox News, 16 Feb. 2025
According to court records, Recio agreed to bribe Costanzo, who was the DEA supervisor in Miami, in exchange for his providing the private investigator with confidential information about narcotics investigations.
—Jay Weaver, Miami Herald, 13 Feb. 2025
Comments The private investigator cracked the case.
—Dalton Ross, EW.com, 10 Feb. 2025
Now, to be clear, NGN has stressed that none of its staff at The Sun, which is still around today, were ever involved in any unlawful activities, only private investigators.
—Lauren Said-Moorhouse, CNN, 24 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for private investigator 
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Michael Ruiz, Fox News, 16 Feb. 2025
According to court records, Recio agreed to bribe Costanzo, who was the DEA supervisor in Miami, in exchange for his providing the private investigator with confidential information about narcotics investigations.
—Jay Weaver, Miami Herald, 13 Feb. 2025
Comments The private investigator cracked the case.
—Dalton Ross, EW.com, 10 Feb. 2025
Now, to be clear, NGN has stressed that none of its staff at The Sun, which is still around today, were ever involved in any unlawful activities, only private investigators.
—Lauren Said-Moorhouse, CNN, 24 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for private investigator
Dictionary Entries Near private investigator
Cite this Entry
“Private investigator.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/private%20investigator. Accessed 21 Feb. 2025.
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