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
She's hired various private investigators to find out her true identity, but only the low-rent Mitch Henessey (Samuel L. Jackson) is still on the case.
—
Jennifer Ouellette, Ars Technica, 24 Dec. 2024
Atchison's defense attorney Ben Powers had asked Chappell to disqualify the DA's office from prosecuting the case because Powers and a private investigator were pictured in the audit.
—Craig Shoup, The Tennessean, 22 Dec. 2024
Two attorneys for Danny Masterson and a private investigator could face disciplinary investigations for their conduct toward jurors after the disgraced actor’s rape conviction, a judge ruled Tuesday.
—James Queally, Los Angeles Times, 10 Dec. 2024
Set in a world where humans and puppets coexist, the story follows Phil Philips (voiced by Bill Barretta), a disgraced puppet private investigator who is drawn into a murder case when cast members of The Happytime Gang, a popular puppet TV show, are systematically killed.
—Travis Bean, Forbes, 7 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for private investigator 
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Jennifer Ouellette, Ars Technica, 24 Dec. 2024
Atchison's defense attorney Ben Powers had asked Chappell to disqualify the DA's office from prosecuting the case because Powers and a private investigator were pictured in the audit.
—Craig Shoup, The Tennessean, 22 Dec. 2024
Two attorneys for Danny Masterson and a private investigator could face disciplinary investigations for their conduct toward jurors after the disgraced actor’s rape conviction, a judge ruled Tuesday.
—James Queally, Los Angeles Times, 10 Dec. 2024
Set in a world where humans and puppets coexist, the story follows Phil Philips (voiced by Bill Barretta), a disgraced puppet private investigator who is drawn into a murder case when cast members of The Happytime Gang, a popular puppet TV show, are systematically killed.
—Travis Bean, Forbes, 7 Dec. 2024
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 31 Dec. 2024.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share