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
Noir revolves around an aging and down on his luck private investigator (Cage) in 1930s New York, who is forced to grapple with his past life as the city’s one and only superhero.
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Lesley Goldberg, The Hollywood Reporter, 14 May 2024
In the years since the conclusion of the first inquiry, authorities and private investigators have followed numerous leads and conducted searches for Madeleine.
—Alex Gurley, Peoplemag, 11 May 2024
See all Example Sentences for private investigator 
Lesley Goldberg, The Hollywood Reporter, 14 May 2024
In the years since the conclusion of the first inquiry, authorities and private investigators have followed numerous leads and conducted searches for Madeleine.
—Alex Gurley, Peoplemag, 11 May 2024
See all Example Sentences for private investigator
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'private investigator.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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Cite this Entry
“Private investigator.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/private%20investigator. Accessed 19 May. 2024.
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